Higher education R&D outlays continue to increase: StatsCan

Healthy increases in higher education research and development (R&D) continued for a ninth straight year in FY18-19, jumping 5.2% year-over-year to $15.1 billion, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.

All sources of funding – both internal and external – reported higher levels of support, bolstering Canada’s higher education status in contributing a greater portion of Canada’s total R&D than any other G7 nation. It also accounts for approximately 40% of Canada’s total R&D spending.

Internal university funding sources accounted for $7.4 billion or nearly half of the total, up 4.4% over FY17-18, followed by the federal government which boosted its support 7.7% to $3.6 billion.

Provincial governments provided $1.2 billion while the business sector contributed an equal amount.  Private not-for-profit organizations provided $1.5 billion while foreign sources amount to $137 million.

Unsurprisingly, Ontario and Quebec accounted for 65% of all higher education R&D expenditures, boosting their totals by $198.4 million and $196.7 million respectively. All other provinces had increases with the exceptions of Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

Natural sciences continue to dominate R&D outlays in the higher education sector, accounting for $11.5 billion or 65.9% of total expenditures. The social sciences and humanities account for the remainder ($3.6 billion/24.1%).

Higher education R&D funding sectors over time

($ millions, current dollars)

Source: Statistics Canada

R$