More than 20 years ago, University of Waterloo student Mike Lazaridis started a small company called Research In Motion (RIM). Since then, he has made two big discoveries. The first was the technology that sparked the birth of the BlackBerry; the second was that everything he needed to build a global, multibillion dollar company could be found in the Waterloo region of Ontario.

RIM provides complex and sophisticated products and services in a highly competitive global industry. Founded in 1984, RIM today is a premier brand in wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. During fiscal 2008 alone, RIM’s revenue grew by 98 percent to over $6.01 billion.

At one point in November 2007, RIM had a market capitalization of $69.1 billion, surpassing the Royal Bank of Canada as the most valuable company in Canada. And RIM continues to expand with new products and services. BlackBerry is available from 400 carriers and distribution partners in 150 countries around the world.