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Ontario companies hold 6 of the top 10 positions on Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders List


Toronto - June 26, 2001 - Ontario companies dominate Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders List, released today by Research Infosource Inc. (www.researchinfosource.com). A total of 59 Ontario-based companies made the list, holding 6 of the top 10 positions.

  • Nortel Networks #1, with a R&D investment of more than $5.9 billion in 2000.
  • Magna International # 3, moves up from 6th in 1999 with $246.5 million in spending.
  • ATI Technologies #5, same position as in 1999.
  • Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. #7, drops from 3rd place in 1999. ($173.4 million) is in 7th position.
  • JDS Uniphase #8, jumps 22 places from 30th in 1999 with a 319.8% increase in R&D spending.
  • Mitel Corporation #9, down two spots from 7th in 1999 despite a modest 2.1% increase in spending.
Of the 15 companies in Research Infosource's elite "$100 Million Club", reserved for companies that spend $100 million or more annually on R&D, 8 are based in Ontario. Nortel, Magna, ATI, Atomic Energy of Canada, JDS, Mitel, GEAC Computer Systems (12th on the Top 100) and Apotex (14th on the Top 100).

Along with JDS Uniphase, several Ontario companies moved up significantly from 1999 to 2000, including: Hummingbird Ltd. going from 38th to 27th, MDS Inc. moved from 43rd to 28th spot, 724 Solutions Inc. jumped 57 places from 90 to 33, RIM went from 85 to 73, gaining 12 places, Falconbridge gaining15 spots, moving from 69th to 54th, and DALSA Corporation moving up 13 places from 100 to 87. New on the Top 100 for 2000 is AstraZeneca Canada in 23rd place.

Four Ontario companies moved into the Top 100 in 2000: IMAX Corporation leapt 36 places from 126 to 90, MGI Software went from 113 to 91, Mortice Kern Systems rose from 101 to 94, and Crytologic Inc. moved up 24 places from 122 to 98.

Only six Ontario firms reduced their R&D spending from 1999 to 2000. Atomic Energy of Canada (-14.8%), Imperial Oil (-20.3%), Moore Corporation Ltd. (-8.9%), Celestica Inc. (-1.1%), Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. (-37.9%), and Tesma International (-25.6%).

The total R&D spending by Canada's Top 100 rose dramatically from $8.7 billion in 1999 to $11.1 billion in 2000, a jump of 28.5%.

"The Ontario-based companies boasted stellar R&D performances as profits and stock prices climbed, particularly in the IT hubs around Toronto and Ottawa," says Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource Inc. "Research Infosource will continue to track trends to see if R&D growth in other sectors will compensate for the expected drop in IT."

The complete Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders List, available on the Research Infosource website (www.researchinfosource.com) free of charge, is drawn from Research Infosource's Canadian Corporate R&D Database of more than 300 of the top companies doing R&D in Canada. An in-depth report on Canadian R&D trends, Canada's Top Corporate R&D Spenders Report 2001, will be published in July.

Research Infosource Inc. is a division of The Impact Group, one of Canada's leading consulting firms specializing in strategic planning, policy analysis & development, research & evaluation, communications & marketing, and training & education, for organizations concerned with science, technology, and innovation. The Impact Group provides a range of research and consulting services to companies, government agencies, higher education, and non-profit institutions.

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Information: Ron Freedman, CEO, Research Infosource Inc.(416) 481-7070 ext. 31
Janet Sandor, Director of Communications (416) 481-7070 ext. 25