Scientific research and development spending: national statistics from Canada

Statistics Canada has published a new report, "Total spending on research and development in Canada, 1990 to 2006, and provinces 1990 to 2004" (PDF).

From the highlights regarding Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) in Canada:
- Preliminary estimates for GERD in 2006 suggest that this indicator will continue to grow at a modest pace. Total spending on R&D in Canada is expected to amount to $28.4 billion dollars in 2006, a 4.4% increase over the figures for 2005 ($27.2 billion). Although this increase is slightly below the 4.5% increase in GERD experienced in 2005, it is higher than the meager 1.6% rise recorded in 2002.
- As has been the case since 2004, increases in expenditure on R&D in the higher education sector continue to account for a major proportion of the growth in GERD. In 2006, a 10% ($990 million) increase in expenditure on R&D by higher education institutions is expected to account for 84% of the estimated growth in GERD of $1.2
billion. Business enterprises’ R&D performance dollars are expected to contribute only 16% (or $195 million) to the growth in GERD.
- In 2006, the federal government is projected to be the second largest funder of R&D (behind business enterprises) accounting for $5.2 billion (18%) of the total funding of R&D. This amount represents a 5.0% increase over the figures for 2005 ($5 billion). Business enterprises are expected to account for $13.2 billion (or 47%) of the total funding for R&D in Canada, a 1.9% increase over the amount they provided in 2005 ($13 billion).

In estimates based on conversion to 1997 dollars, GERD spending has almost doubled in Canada from 1990 - 2005 (in millions of 1997 Canadian dollars, from 11,554 in 1990 to 22,970 in 2005).