Spending on research and development in the higher education sector, 2010/2011 (final)

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Spending on research and development (R&D) in Canada's higher education institutions was up 5.6% to $11.4 billion in 2010/2011 from the previous year. The sector comprises universities and affiliated research hospitals, experimental stations and clinics.

Since 2000, spending on R&D by these institutions has almost doubled.

R&D spending in the natural sciences and engineering field was up 5.4% to $9.1 billion in 2010/2011 from 2009/2010. This field has accounted for about 80% of total R&D spending in higher education over the past decade.

In the social sciences and humanities field, R&D spending increased 6.6% to $2.3 billion.

Provincially, R&D spending in the higher education sector increased in every province in 2010/2011 except New Brunswick.

Quebec and Ontario combined accounted for almost two-thirds of R&D spending in the higher education sector. These two provinces have the highest concentration of universities, research hospitals, experimental stations and clinics in Canada.

In terms of funding, the higher education sector itself contributed $5.1 billion toward R&D, or 45% of the total. The federal government and provincial governments combined contributed $4.3 billion, or 37%.