The engineers who volunteer their time to the Engineer-in-Residence program don't work in a vacuum. Their commitment is supported and matched by industry and government leaders who see the EIR program as a way of making a tangible contribution to the community. They also see the program as a way of preparing our communities for active participation in the knowledge economy. Companies that support the program financially usually offer to commit a number of volunteer engineers to the program as well. The time of these engineers is worth many times the financial commitment! Engineers and other technical staff are the single most valuable resource for companies on the leading edge of technology. In fact, most companies support the EIR program because they want more young people to enter technical careers and hence increase the number of potential skilled employees. So, for sponsoring companies, donating valuable time of skilled employees is an investment in the future of their company and the field in which they operate. The same is true for government. The Government of Ontario is committed to expanding opportunities for young people in technology-related fields. The Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology (MEST) has a Youth Science and Technology fund that supports programs focused on stimulating youth interest and participation in science and technology. The EIR program has received funding from this fund. (see: http://www.newswire.ca/releases/April2001/26/c8224 and http://www.newswire.ca/releases/March2000/02/c0720 for more information.) Visit our sponsors section and find out how you can help nurture the next generation of engineers and scientists.