Innovation Analysis Bulletin

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The Innovation Analysis Bulletin (IAB) provides statistical and analytical updates on government science and technology activities, industrial research and development, intellectual property commercialization, advanced technology and innovation, biotechnology, information society, telecommunications and broadcasting, and electronic commerce.

Articles in this issue

Differences in the characteristics of innovative and non-innovative manufacturing plants
Internet use: An international and inter-provincial comparison
The ongoing importance of gross domestic expenditures on research and development (GERD)
How general university funds (GUF) fit in research and development statistics

Differences in the characteristics of innovative and non-innovative manufacturing plants

This article explores differences in characteristics of innovative and non-innovative manufacturing plants in Canada using results from the Survey of Innovation (SOI) 2005. It finds that innovative plants are more likely than non-innovators to be large, to have employees with higher education credentials, to engage in research and development (R&D) and marketing activities and to have full-time R&D employees. Innovative plants are also more likely to receive external funding, to export and import, to use both formal and informal methods of intellectual property protection, and to have differences in how they rate the importance of success factors. [Go to article]

Internet use: An international and inter-provincial comparison

The adoption and use of information and communications technology (ICTs) by individuals and businesses in part determines a country's ability to participate successfully in the global information economy. As the Internet is an essential component of ICT infrastructure, its use has become a key hallmark of this participation. In order to situate Internet use both geographically and over time, this study compares 2005 and 2007 Canadian use rates with those of other selected countries, as well as among Canadian provinces. [Go to article]

The ongoing importance of gross domestic expenditures on research and development (GERD)

Investment in research and development (R&D) is important to the economy of a country, and its measurement is an essential component of the Canadian statistical system. The publication, Gross Domestic Expenditures on Research and Development in Canada and the Provinces (GERD), 1997 to 2008 (Statistics Canada 2008a) provides a statistical picture of the Canadian system of research and development. These data inform public policy, help benchmark Canadian performance against other countries (OECD 2007, 2008) and provide essential input to the study of the impact of science and technology on the life of Canadians. [Go to article]

How general university funds (GUF) fit in research and development statistics

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) collects and reports on statistics from its member countries for various subject matter fields. In order to properly compare these statistics, the OECD develops common concepts and measurement standards. For the field of research and development (R&D) statistics, the OECD’s proposed standard practice for R&D surveys is detailed in the Frascati Manual (OECD 2002). However, not all OECD countries’ national practices align with the Frascati Manual standards. The OECD receives Canadian R&D data from surveys conducted by Statistics Canada. While the general concepts of the Frascati Manual are integrated with Statistics Canada’s survey framework, national variations in reporting with the OECD still exist. One of these national differences in data presentation can be found in the allocation of public general university funds.
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