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Mike LazaridisFounder and director of a large company "Research In Motion"
Date of Birth: 14.03.1961
Country:  Canada |
Content:
Biography of Mike Lazaridis
Founder and CEO of Research In MotionMike Lazaridis, the founder and CEO of Research In Motion (RIM), is a powerful manufacturer and supplier of cutting-edge wireless solutions for the mobile communication spectrum. Born on March 14, 1961, in Istanbul, Turkey, Lazaridis moved to Ontario, Canada, with his family when he was just five years old. At the age of twelve, he won a literary prize and gained unlimited access to scientific books at the Windsor Library. In 1979, he enrolled in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science program at the University of Waterloo but dropped out one month before receiving his diploma.
The Lucrative Contract with General Motors
A highly profitable contract with General Motors was on the horizon. Soon after, Lazaridis, along with two partners, a small government grant, and $15,000, founded Research In Motion. The company would go on to become one of the largest and most successful high-tech companies in Canada. Today, Research In Motion is extremely popular, and its products are in high demand. The company develops various software, hardware, and other tools that support various wireless communication standards. It also produces state-of-the-art platforms necessary for accessing information through the internet, SMS, mobile communication, and other networks. The company's products have rightfully received numerous prestigious awards.
Philanthropy and Recognition
Mike Lazaridis is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a well-known philanthropist (his spouse is also involved in charitable work). On October 23, 2000, Lazaridis founded the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, investing $100 million from his personal funds (an additional $10 million was contributed by Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of Research In Motion). Incidentally, shortly before this, Lazaridis received an honorary doctorate in engineering from the University of Waterloo and became its eighth chancellor.
In 2002, readers of the Globe and Mail newspaper honored Lazaridis with the prestigious title of Canada's Nation Builder of the Year. On April 30, 2004, Mike Lazaridis and his wife donated $33.3 million to the University of Waterloo, and on May 3, 2005, the Lazaridis family contributed an additional $17.2 million for the construction of a new building.
A few years ago, Lazaridis became a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario.
