Canadian universities post modest 3.6% gain in total research income

Top 50 university ranking

The Univ of Toronto solidified and enhanced its standing as Canada's foremost academic research powerhouse in an otherwise lackluster year for university R&D. U of T posted an 11.9% increase in total research income in 2007 to maintain its #1 spot on the Canada's Top 50 Research Universities ranking, with $854.8 million. The Top 50, on the other hand, barely offset inflation with a tepid 3.6% hike, to just $5.72 billion. That increase was only 0.4% higher than the lowest year in a decade (2005) and the third year in a row in which increases fell below 10%.

U of T also ranks first in research intensity with $359.3 per full time faculty, up from $323.4 last year. Overall, the Top 50 increased research intensity by 1.5% compared to 3.9% in 2006.

Last year's #2 and #3 ranked universities — the Univ of Montreal and the Univ of British Columbia — both dropped a notch to accommodate the spectacular performance of the Univ of Alberta, which posted a 20.5% annual gain to $461.4 million and ranked second in research intensity with $301.

Three provinces experienced declines in research income, with BC the hardest hit with three of four Top 50-ranked institutions losing ground. Quebec institutions dropped 2.4% even though seven of its 12 universities on the list posted gains. They were overshadowed, however, by the declines of the two largest R&D spending universities — McGill Univ and the Univ of Montreal which dropped 7.2% and 5.4% respectively. Memorial Univ — the only university in Newfoundland — posted a 2.0% decline.

Saskatchewan and Alberta-based universities were the biggest gainers in 2007, especially the Univ of Saskatchewan which jumped 40.8% to $150.5 million for a #13 spot. The size of its increase was just behind the Top 50's biggest gainer — the much smaller Saint Mary's Univ — which achieved a 47.3% gain to $9.8 million for a #44 ranking.

funding sources

Unlike last year when federal support increased nearly 10%, the increase this year was a negligible 0.5%. The provinces rebounded from a 6.5% decline in 2006 to post a 7.6% increase in 2007, pulling overall government support into positive territory (2.5%) with $3.94 billion. Corporate support slumped 2.6% in 2007to $709.4 million.

Non corporate, non-government support (non-government grants/contracts and donations/bequests from individuals, not-for-profit and foundation organization sources) increased 9.0% to $847.4 million.

Endowments and investment were up 14% to $92.5 million while other sources jumped 24.8% to $133.8 million.

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