The excitement of Canada's centennial celebration in 1967 was intensified when Canada hosted the world at Expo '67 – an international exposition under the theme of "Man and His World"– held in Montréal. It was with this spirit of internationalism that the visionary concept of an international development "research" centre was first advanced publicly by the Right Hon. Lester B. Pearson, in an address he gave at Carleton University in June 1967. Pearson envisioned the creation of a unique Canadian initiative with an international character – one that could bring the benefits of the latest scientific and technological advances to the problems of development. Pearson went on to become the Chairman of the Commission on International Development and the ideas he had shared with the audience at Carleton were developed in the August 1968 Commission report, Partners In Development (The Pearson Report).

The original idea of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) as a politically-independent organization had been the brainchild of Maurice Strong. Under his chairmanship, a steering committee consisting of an impressive membership of senior public servants consulted with institutions and individuals in Canada and abroad. Their recommendations became the foundation for the commitment to establish IDRC that was set out in the throne speech of September 12, 1968 under the new government of the Right Hon. Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

By December 1968, the proposed institution was approved in principle and a team to draft the final legislation was assembled under the direction of Maurice Strong. On October 29, 1969, it was introduced in the House of Commons and presented before two Cabinet committees. By an Act of the Canadian Parliament, passed with the support of all Parties in May 1970, IDRC was established as a Crown Corporation – a Canadian institution with an innovative international dimension. Part of this international dimension was the membership of the Board of Governors: while the chair and 11 of the 21 members of the Board of Governors were to be Canadian, the remaining positions ensured that the perspective and experience of developing countries would be represented.

IDRC was unprecedented on the international scene. The broad scope granted to the new institution by Parliament was acknowledged by the first president, David Hopper, in his address to the inaugural meeting of the Centre's Board of Governors. Under his leadership and vision, the Centre set a course that recognized the need for a partnership between rich and poor countries in the development process. It also led the way in helping to build up research capabilities through projects that were not only located in developing countries, but also carried out by local scientists.

For further information on the evolution of the IDRC, see the following link to access historical documents.