The following are key principles guiding the creation and operation of NIHI:

1. NIHI's mission must be to stimulate the advancement and growth of Health Informatics (HI) research in Canada. It will do this by facilitating a fertile and enabling matrix on which growth can occur.
2. NIHI must assist local organizations in developing their own capacities to do HI research, in assembling the multi-disciplinary collaborations across local organizations that are required to attract adequate funding and to carry out significant HI research programs.
3. NIHI must deeply engage industry in its activities, both because of the expertise and other resources in industry, and because of the requirement for industry's involvement as a partner related to major funding programs.
4. NIHI must bring net resources and capabilities to its participating research organizations; it cannot be a cost to them.
5. The center of NIHI's activities and the measure of its value must be found in its local participating organizations.