High ed R&D posts modest 3.4% gain in FY11-12

Spending on higher education R&D increased by 3.4% in FY11-12 to $11.6 billion, fuelled by funding increases by the institutions themselves and business. Federal funding remained flat compared to FY10-11 while funding from foreign sources plunged 11.6%.

The data were contained in the latest survey from Statistics Canada, which no longer produces a full report on the sector, instead relying on its CANSIM database which users can use to obtain tailored results.

Spending by the higher education sector rose by 4.4% to $5.2 billion for a 44.6% share of the total, while private non-profit sources jumped by 6% to $1.1 billion, for a 9.4% share.

The federal government — the second largest source of funding after the institutions — contributed $3.1 billion for a 26.5% share, unchanged from the previous year. Provincial governments collectively posted a modest gain of $1.5% to $1.2 billion for a 10.4% share.

The largest percentage gain came from the business sector, with $937.7 million in spending for an 8.1% share. That stands in contrast to foreign sources of funding which dropped to $124.6 million for a 1.1% share.

Higher education spending increased in all provinces with the exception of Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island. Ontario and Quebec remain the single largest spenders, accounting for two third of the total. Ontario institutions spent $4.9 million for a 42.2% share, up a healthy 7% with all funding sectors registering increases. It was followed by Quebec with $2.8 billion and a 24.1% share. That was flat from the previous year, with modest gains in business funding offset by slight drops in federal and provincial funding.

Higher ed spending in British Columbia was essentially flat with $1.3 billion and a 10.9% share. Alberta — arguably the most dynamic economy in Canada — managed a 2% gain to $1.2 billion for a 1.7% share.

The split between natural sciences and engineering and social sciences and humanities remained essentially unchanged at 79.8% and 20.2% respectively.

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