The Daily
|
 In the news  Indicators  Releases by subject
 Special interest  Release schedule  Information

Spending on research and development in the higher education sector, 2012/2013

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

Released: 2014-07-25

Spending on research and development (R&D) in Canada's higher education sector increased 2.3% on a fiscal year basis between 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 to $12.1 billion. The higher education sector is composed of universities and affiliated research hospitals, experimental stations and clinics.

When adjusted for inflation, higher education R&D spending rose 0.6% in 2012/2013, the smallest constant dollar increase in a decade.

Provincially, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia increased spending on R&D in the higher education sector in 2012/2013. While Newfoundland and Labrador posted the largest year-over-year percentage increase in spending, Ontario accounted for most of the national gain in 2012/2013.

Total expenditures on R&D are classified into two fields of science: natural sciences and engineering as well as social sciences and humanities. Overall, about 80% of total R&D expenditures were concentrated on natural sciences and engineering, which rose 2.2% from 2011/2012 to $9.7 billion. Spending on social sciences and humanities R&D increased 2.6% to $2.4 billion.

There are six funding sources for R&D in the higher education sector: the business enterprise sector, private non-profit sector, federal government sector, provincial government sector, foreign sector and internal funding from the higher education sector itself. Every source increased their funding between 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 except the federal government. The higher education sector posted the largest increase in R&D expenditures, up more than $223 million to $5.4 billion in 2012/2013. This was followed by the provincial government sector, which increased expenditures by approximately $86 million. Conversely, the federal government reduced spending from $3.2 billion in 2011/2012 to $3.1 billion 2012/2013.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Spending on research and development in the higher education sector, by source of funding and science field, 2012/2013 - Description and data table
Spending on research and development in the higher education sector, by source of funding and science field, 2012/2013

Chart 1: Spending on research and development in the higher education sector, by source of funding and science field, 2012/2013 - Description and data table

The higher education sector itself is the largest contributor to R&D funding in both fields of science. In 2012/2013, the higher education sector accounted for 58.2% of total R&D spending on social sciences and humanities, while the business enterprise sector accounted for 1.8%. In natural sciences and engineering, the higher education sector accounted for 41.4% of R&D spending, while the business enterprise sector contributed 9.7%.

  Note to readers

Total research and development spending expressed in 2007 constant prices are calculated by deflating current dollar values using the gross domestic product implicit price index at market prices.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Carl Sauriol (613-951-6830; carl.sauriol@statcan.gc.ca) or Cindy Carter (613-951-1856; cindy.carter@statcan.gc.ca), Investment, Science and Technology Division.

Report a problem on this page

Is something not working? Is there information outdated? Can't find what you're looking for?

Please contact us and let us know how we can help you.

Privacy notice

Date modified: