Toronto - October 29, 2003 - Alberta's three universities posted $474.1 million in sponsored research income in fiscal 2002 according to Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2003, published by Research Infosource Inc. The list ranks Canada's leading universities by sponsored research income from both government and non-government sources. The University of Alberta ($287.5 million) in 4th place and the University of Calgary ($177.9 million) in 8th place, and the University of Lethbridge ($8.7 million) is 35th.

Ranking the universities by research intensity (research income per full-time faculty) finds the University of Calgary in the top 10. McGill University leads the pack with $233,000 per full-time faculty. Université de Montréal is 2nd with $219,700, McMaster University is 3rd posting $201,400, University of Alberta is in 4th place with $199,100, and Queen's University rounds out the top 5 with $198,000. At $171,600, the University of Toronto is 6th, University of Guelph is in 7th spot with $166,700, University of Ottawa places 8th with $159,100, Université Laval is 9th with $154,500, and University of Calgary completes the top 10 with $122,400.

Looking at year-on-year research income growth finds the University of Lethbridge in the top 10. Acadia University takes top position with a 72.3% jump and Trent University is 2nd with a 69.3% increase. Posting a 68% growth, Brock University is 3rd and Lakehead University is 4th with a 67.6% increase. The University of Lethbridge rounds out the top 5, reporting a 65.2% growth in sponsored research income. York University (51.5%) is 6th, Queen's University (48.7%) is 7th, University of Regina (46.1%) is 8th, Université du Québec à Montréal (37.9%) is 9th and Simon Fraser University (34.9%) completes the top 10.

Looking at the regional picture, the largest provinces accounted for the lion's share of research income. Ontario's 17 institutions accounted for 39% for a total of $1.5 billion. Québec with 13 institutions reported $1.1 billion for 29% of the total, and Alberta's 3 universities brought in $474.1 million, representing 12%. British Columbia with 4 universities recorded $304.6 million (8%), Saskatchewan's 2 universities posted $140.3 million (4%), Manitoba, also with 2 universities, reported $104.8 million (3%) and Nova Scotia with 5 institutions had $93.3 million (2%). New Brunswick ($31.3 million) with two universities, and Newfoundland ($34.9 million) with one accounted for 1% each. Prince Edward Island, with one university, posted $5.2 million, which was less than 0.5% of the total. Together, Canada's top 50 research universities posted $3.8 billion in sponsored research income for fiscal 2002, up from $3.4 billion in 2001.

Overall, Canada's top 50 research universities increased their sponsored research income by 12.1% in fiscal 2002 with five provinces posting above average growth rates. Saskatchewan led the rankings with a 22.4% increase. New Brunswick is 2nd with 19%, British Columbia is 3rd posting a 15% increase, Québec is 4th with a 14.3% increase, and Alberta is 5th with a 13.4% growth. The remaining five provinces reported research income growth below the national figure of 12.1%. Ontario (9.9%), Nova Scotia (8.5%), Newfoundland (1.9%), Manitoba (0.9%) and Prince Edward Island (0.3%).

"Universities with medical schools tend to attract more sponsored research income", says Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource Inc. "Alberta's two medical schools and the commitment of the provincial government help boost Alberta's performance."

The complete Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2003 is available on the Research Infosource website, www.researchinfosource.com. The data are drawn from Statistics Canada, Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ) and Research Infosource's own Canadian University R&D Database.

An in-depth Report profiling 68 institutions is slated for publication in November 2003. Research Infosource Inc., a division of The Impact Group, is Canada's source of R&D intelligence. Drawing from an extensive database, Research Infosource Inc. publishes Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders List and Report, Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List and Report, and other specialized reports.

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