Canada’s Source of R&D Intelligence
Toronto - December 18, 2002 - British Columbia Universities lag the other provinces in sponsored research funding according to Canada's Top Research Universities Report 2002 released today by Research Infosource Inc. (www.researchinfosource.com). In fiscal 2001, British Columbia's 7 universities took in $266.7 million, only 8% of the total $3.4 billion received by Canada's top 65 research universities. Ontario's 19 universities posted over $1.3 billion of sponsored research income, representing 40% of the national total. Québec's 16 universities received 29% and Alberta's 5 institutions attracted 12%.
Nationally, research intensity, sponsored research income per full-time faculty, showed a healthy increase in 2001, rising from $82,000 per faculty in 2000 to $98,800 in 2001, a jump of 20.4%. Looking at the provincial picture, B.C. universities are languishing in sixth place with $69,800 per faculty position. Alberta's 5 universities lead the pack posting an average of $130,300. Québec is in second place with $124,500 per full-time faculty, and Ontario ranks third with $108,500. Saskatchewan with 2 universities makes it into fourth with $85,500 per full-time faculty and Manitoba rounds out the top 5 with $71,900 sponsored research income per full-time faculty in 2001.
Measuring total sponsored research income per capita, British Columbia is a disappointing seventh with only $65 per provincial resident in fiscal 2001, well below the national average of $110. Alberta universities took first place receiving $136 for each Albertan. Québec is a close second attracting $133 of sponsored research income per capita. Ontario came third with $115 for each Ontario resident, and Saskatchewan is fourth with $113. Nova Scotia rounds out the top 5 with $95 per resident.
"B.C.'s lacklustre performance is in part due to the fact the province only has one medical school - UBC", says Ron Freedman, CEO, Research Infosource Inc. "Traditionally, universities with medical schools attract more research funding. B.C. is the only one of the larger provinces with only one medical school."
Canada's Top Research Universities Report 2002 contains information on 65 Canadian universities drawn from Statistics Canada and Research Infosource's own Canadian University R&D database. Canada's Top 50 Research University List was published in October and is available on the Research Infosource website, www.researchinfosource.com. Research Infosource Inc., also publishers of Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders List and Report, is a division of The Impact Group, one of Canada's leading consulting firms specializing in science and technology policy, research, communications, marketing and education.
Information: Ron Freedman, CEO, Research Infosource Inc. (416) 481-7070 ext. 31
Janet Sandor, Director of Communications (416) 481-7070 ext. 25