Importance of biotech to federal innovation strategy evident in latest StatsCan data

Federal biotechnology outlays are continuing on a rapid upward trajectory with $392 million in R&D and related scientific expenditures in FY99-00, according to the most recent data from Statistics Canada. That’s up 22.6% over 1998 when federal biotech spending was $319.5 million, and an increase of 49.6% over 1997 levels when the figure was $262.0 million.

The majority was spent within the federal government ($184.6 million) while the higher education sector is the largest single recipient of federal biotech S&T funding at $169.2 million. Businesses received $35.5 million while foreign and other performers received $2.8 million.

The data clearly show that the federal government is intent on strengthening Canada’s biotech capacity. Intramural spending has enjoyed a two-year jump of 58.4% ($116.5 million to $184.6 million) while funding to business climbed an astounding 379.7%,from $7.4 million to $35.5 million. Funding to the higher education sector has also increased, but at a more modest rate of 24.5% from $135.7 million in FY97-98 to $169.2 million in FY99-00.

In the area of intramural spending the National Research Council (NRC) was the largest single performer at $103.0 million, followed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at $55.5 million. The other $26 million was spread over several science-based departments and agencies.

For the higher education sectors, the Medical Research Council (now the Canadian Institutes of Health Research) doled out the largest single amount ($127.8 million) followed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) ($39.9 million). For business enterprise, Industry Canada was the dominant funder, providing $29.5 million of the $35.5 million total, while the NRC provided $5 million.

In terms of scientific personnel, the federal government had 578 scientific and professional personnel devoted to biotech R&D. The NRC was the largest single employer (269) followed by AAFC (125), Health Canada (85), and Natural Resources Canada (41). Total technical and other federal personnel amounted to 656.

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