University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, Royal Military College
Named Research Universities of the YearTORONTO, Oct. 29 /CNW/ - Canada's Top 50 Research Universities posted a
lacklustre 3.5% growth in their total sponsored research income in fiscal
2007, according to Canada Top 50 Research Universities List 2008 released
today by Research Infosource Inc. (www. researchinfosource.com). This is the
second lowest gain in 9 years. Total research income reached $5.7 billion, up
from $5.5 billion in fiscal 2006. Thirty institutions increased their income
in 2007 and 20 reported declines. A drop in support from the corporate sector
(-2.6%) and only small increases from government (2.7%) were mainly
responsible for the slowdown in growth. Healthy increases in
endowment/investment (14.0%), non-corporate (9.0%) and other income (24.8%)
were not enough to overcome the downward trend. Provincial government funding
(7.6%) couldn't offset the lacklustre (0.5%) rise in federal government
spending.
"The days of double digit increases in annual growth in research income
have clearly ended," said Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource. "But, in a
year's time, 2007's 3.5% increase could well seem bountiful. Following 8 years
of unprecedented growth in research funding, universities may well return to a
period of belt-tightening, putting off equipment and facility renewal and
making do with less."
The $100 Million Club
Sixteen universities, down from 17 last year, claimed membership in
Research Infosource's elite $100 Million Club, reserved for institutions with
more than $100 million of research income in fiscal 2007. Nearly all Club
members, except University of Guelph and University of Waterloo, have medical
schools that attract substantial research support. Nine of the 16 leaders saw
their income grow in fiscal 2007 compared with 7 universities where incomes
dropped.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rank Rank Research Income Research Income % Change
2007 2006 University 2007 2006 2006-2007
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University of
1 1 Toronto $854.8 million $763.5 million 11.9%
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University of
2 5 Alberta $461.4 million $382.8 million 20.5%
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Université de
3 2 Montréal $415 million $447.2 million -7.2%
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University of
British
4 3 Columbia $401.27 million $422 million -4.9%
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McGill
5 4 University $375.74 million $397.1 million -5.4%
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McMaster
6 6 University $346.3 million $331.6 million 4.4%
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Université
7 8 Laval $268.3 million $258.9 million 3.6%
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University of
8 7 Calgary $254.2 million $262.2 million -3.1%
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University of
Western
9 10 Ontario $238 million $226 million 5.4%
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University of
10 9 Ottawa $229.2 million $244 million -6.1%
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Queen's
11 11 University $213 million $173.7 million 22.7%
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University of
12 13 Manitoba $154.9 million $139.6 million 11%
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University of
13 16 Saskatchewan $150.5 million $106.9 million 40.8%
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University of
14 12 Guelph $132.9 million $149.6 million -11.2%
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University of
15 14 Waterloo $121.6 million $127.5 million -4.6%
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Dalhousie
16 15 University $111.5 million $106.9 million 4.3%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------Regional Picture
Three provinces' universities recorded research income drops in fiscal
2007: British Columbia (-4.1%), Quebec (-2.4%) and Newfoundland (-2.0%). The
strongest gains took place at universities in Saskatchewan (32.5%) and Alberta
(10.7%). Ontario's 18 institutions accounted for 42% of all income in fiscal
2007 and posted a (5.2%) increase in research income. Quebec institutions
attracted 24% of total support and posted a (-2.4%) drop. Growth in research
support at Quebec universities has lagged the national average for 3
consecutive years. Alberta's 3 universities increased their share of the total
to 13%, from 12% the prior year. Overall the nine universities in the Atlantic
Provinces did well, with only two institutions posting decreases, Memorial
University of Newfoundland (-2%) and Nova Scotia Agricultural College (-1.2%).
Research Universities of the Year
Each year Research Infosource designates Research Universities of the
Year in three categories. These leading institutions stand out on a balanced
scorecard of financial input and research publication output and impact
indicators. This year, kudos go to: In the medical/doctoral category
University of Toronto in first place, McGill University in second and
University of Alberta in third. University of Waterloo takes first place in
the comprehensive category, followed by University of Guelph in second and
University of Victoria in third. In the undergraduate category, Royal Military
College of Canada is first, University of Northern British Columbia is second,
and Brock University is third.
Spotlight on Research Income
This year Research Infosource shines the spotlight on universities that
showed the largest income growth over a 6-year period (fiscal 2002-fiscal
2007). In the Medical/Doctoral category, Memorial University of Newfoundland
grew its research income by 116.7%, followed by University of Toronto (87.3%)
and University of British Columbia (85.5%), compared with the category average
of 50.2%. Simon Fraser University (126.4%), University of Victoria (84.7%) and
University of New Brunswick (79.9%) all bested the Comprehensive university
average increase of 46.5%. University of Prince Edward Island led the
Undergraduate category, by expanding its research income by 153.8% in the
period, followed by University of Northern British Columbia (144.5%) and
Lakehead University (107.0%), compared with the Undergraduate average of
56.2%.
Gainers and Losers
Twenty-five of the Top 50 universities posted income growth higher than
the national average of 3.5%. This group was led by Saint Mary's University,
which had an impressive 47.3% increase in research income in fiscal 2007.
University of Saskatchewan (40.8%), Ryerson University (32.8%), Université du
Québec à Trois-Rivières (32.8%) and Université du Québec en Outaouais (32.0%)
were standouts. Other universities did not fare as well in fiscal 2007, with
double-digit drops at 7 institutions: Laurentian University (-59.8%), Ecole de
technologie supérieure (-41.9%), Trent University (-38.1%), University of
Northern British Columbia (-13.3%) and Université du Québec en Abitibi-
Témiscamingue (-12.3%), University of Guelph (-11.2%) and University of
Victoria (-10.7%)
Research Intensity
The Top 50 universities managed only a 1.5% increase in research
intensity - research income per full-time faculty position - compared with an
increase of 3.9% in fiscal 2006. Slow income growth (3.5%) combined with a
modest increase in faculty (1.9%) was the cause. On average, each Canadian
university attracted $158,000 of research income per full-time faculty,
compared with $155,600 the year prior. Leading the pack in fiscal 2007 was
University of Toronto, which recorded $359,300 of research income per faculty.
University of Alberta was next at $301,000. McMaster University was in 3rd
place with $294,500 per faculty. Queen's University followed in 4th position
with $262,100 for each faculty.
Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2008, Research Universities of
the Year 2008 and Spotlight 2008 as well as a complete 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. Research Infosource Inc., a division of The Impact
Group, is Canada's source of R&D intelligence. Drawing from extensive
databases, Research Infosource Inc. publishes Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D
Spenders List, Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List, and specialized
reports.
For further information: Ron Freedman, CEO, Research Infosource Inc.,
(416) 481-7070, ext. 31; Janet Sandor, Director of Communications, (416)
481-7070, ext. 25
