Toronto - October 29, 2003 - Ontario universities attracted the lion's share of sponsored research income in fiscal 2002, according to Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2003, published by Research Infosource Inc. Ontario's 17 institutions accounted for 39% for a total of $1.5 billion. The list ranks Canada's leading universities by sponsored research income from both government and non-government sources. 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.

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

Five Ontario universities, Trent, Brock, Lakehead, York and Queen's, are among the top 10 institutions ranked by research income growth. 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.

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%).

"Two of the three Canadian universities that reported declines in research income are in Ontario", says Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource Inc. "The University of Toronto posted a 2.9% drop and Ryerson University showed a 6.9% decrease. This explains, in part, Ontario's lower rate of research income growth."

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