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Federal government spending on science and technology
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The federal government's spending on science and technology is expected to reach $9.5 billion in the fiscal year 2007/2008, after surpassing $9 billion in 2005/2006. Research and development will be the main beneficiary of this federal investment.
A survey of the science and technology activities of federal departments and agencies shows that intended spending on research and development for 2007/2008 will be an estimated $6.1 billion. Related scientific activities, such as scientific and general data collection and information services, will receive $3.5 billion.
As a result, science and technology will account for about 4.5% of the total federal government budget in 2007/2008, compared with 5.1% two years earlier.
Federal science and technology spending will contract slightly in 2007/2008, from $9.7 billion in 2006/2007 to $9.5 billion. This decline will occur in related scientific activities. However, indications are that federal research and development spending will hold steady.
Almost half (48%) of federal science and technology investment in 2007/2008 will be performed outside the federal government with the majority (80%) of this funding directed towards natural sciences and engineering.
The higher education sector will receive $2.9 billion and Canadian business enterprises $1.1 billion to fund science and technology activities in 2007/2008.
The higher education sector will receive $2.6 billion, while the federal government departments and agencies will receive $2.3 billion to conduct research and development.
Intentions for direct federal funding of research and development by Canadian business enterprises are down slightly from $791 million in 2005/2006 to $733 million in 2007/2008.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 4212.
The service bulletin Science Statistics, Vol. 31, no. 7 (88-001-XWE, free), is now available online from the Publications module of our website.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Marc Nadeau, (613-951-2541; marc.nadeau@statcan.gc.ca) or Louise Earl, (613-951-2880; louise.earl@statcan.gc.ca), Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division.
