Canada’s Source of R&D Intelligence
For Immediate Release
Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2005
Sponsored Research Income for Québec Universities Increases 23.0%
McGill, Université de Montréal and Laval Among Most Research Intensive


Toronto - October 25, 2005 - Québec's 13 top research universities increased their sponsored research income by 23.0% in Fiscal 2004 according to Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2005 released today by Research Infosource Inc. Together these institutions received $1.6 billion in 2004, up from $1.3 billion in 2003.

Canada's top 50 research universities posted $5.04 billion in sponsored research income, a 17.7% increase over Fiscal 2003. Sponsored research income includes both government and non-government sources. The lion's share of sponsored research income at Canadian universities continued to come from Government sources, accounting for 70% in 2004. Corporate sources made up 13%, while Non-corporate sources (individuals, foundations, etc.) contributed 12% of the total. Investments and endowments made up the remainder.

The University of Toronto remained in top position on Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2005, reporting $624 million in sponsored research income for Fiscal 2004, increasing 16.8% over Fiscal 2003. Increasing their research income by 58.6% over last year, gave McGill University 2nd spot this year, up from 4th with $543.5 million. Université de Montréal was #3, moving down 1 spot from last year with $446.2 million, increasing 13.1%. University of British Columbia came in 4th place this year, down from 3rd last year with $363.3 million of research income, increasing moderately by 4.1%. University of Alberta also with a significant increase of 31.9%, rounded out the top 5 with $360 million, moving up 1 place to 5th from 6th last year. In all, 15 universities were included in Research Infosource's $100 Million Club, each attracting more than $100 million in research income in Fiscal 2004, up from 14 universities last year.

"This was a solid year for research at Québec universities. Total research income is now over $1.5 billion", said Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource Inc.

Regionally, for Fiscal 2004, Ontario's 17 universities accounted for 37% of the total sponsored research income with $1.9 billion in Fiscal 2004. Québec with 13 institutions with $1.6 billion, represented 31% of total income. Alberta's 3 institutions accounted for $621.2 million, or 12% of the Top 50 total income. The 4 British Columbia-based universities received $486.8 million, represented 10% of the total income. Saskatchewan with 2 universities and $130.8 million and Manitoba with 1 university with $126.5 million, each accounted for 3% of the total. Nova Scotia with 6 institutions and $120.1 million, represented 2%, and New Brunswick with 2 universities and Newfoundland with 1, each accounted for 1%. Prince Edward Island with one university accounted for less than 1%.

Sponsored income research grew in almost all the provinces between Fiscal 2003 and 2004: Alberta (39.3%), New Brunswick (37.7%), Prince Edward Island (35.7%), Québec (23.0%), Nova Scotia (18.1%), Newfoundland (17.6%), Ontario (14.5%) and British Columbia (4.2%). Research income declined in Saskatchewan (-3.3%) and Manitoba (-2.7%).

In Fiscal 2004, 4 of the top 10 gainers (universities that increased their sponsored research income the most) were Québec institutions: École de technologie supérieure (115.7%), Concordia University (77.1%), McGill University (58.6%)and Université du Québec à Rimouski (39.9%).

Research intensity (sponsored research income per full-time faculty) grew by 14.6% between Fiscal 2003 and 2004, reaching an average of $149,900 per faculty position. Québec universities posted the highest research intensity with $191,700, followed closely by Alberta with a research intensity of $190,000 per faculty. British Columbia was 3rd with $151,000, Ontario was 4th with $148,500, Manitoba was 5th at $108,300, Saskatchewan came 6th with $93,300, Nova Scotia was 7th with $68,000, Newfoundland was 8th with $60,100, New Brunswick was 9th at $47,400 and PEI was 10th with $44,700.

Canada's Top 50 Research Universities 2005 and Research Universities of the Year 2005 and analysis are available on the Research Infosource website, www.researchinfosource.com. The data were obtained from Statistics Canada and the Research Infosource Canadian University R&D database. An in-depth Canada's Top Research Universities Report 2005, based on 68 universities is slated for publication later this year. 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, Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List, and specialized reports.

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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