Media release

University research and knowledge transfer add $50 billion to economy

Canada’s universities remain on track for research and commercialization targets, AUCC report finds

Ottawa (October 24, 2005) – Canada’s universities’ research and knowledge transfer activities contributed $50 billion to the country’s GDP in 2004, according to a major new study of university research released today.

Momentum: The 2005 Report on University Research and Knowledge Transfer details universities’ collective progress in meeting research, commercialization and knowledge transfer targets and the benefits that accrue to society from these efforts.

Momentum delivers on a promise made by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada on behalf of universities in 2002 to demonstrate in periodic public reports the concrete returns on investments in university research by the federal government and other partners, as well as to relay the results achieved by universities in meeting their targets. AUCC made these commitments in the lead-up to the federal government’s 2002 national summit on innovation and learning, and Momentum clearly shows that universities are on track to exceed these commitments.

“ Canada’s universities are committed to being accountable and to ensuring that Canadians hear about the benefits of investments in university research,” said AUCC president Claire Morris.

“Canadians have told us that they want to know more about the groundbreaking research happening on university campuses and this report will help highlight universities’ research, commercialization and knowledge transfer efforts across this country.”

Momentum also catalogues the significant R&D investments in Canada made by the federal government since 1997, including $11 billion in funds that have gone towards universities for research.

“That’s a lot of money, and politicians, policy makers and the public deserve to know how Canada is benefiting from those investments,” said Ms. Morris.

“Universities understand that they must make the value of these investments known and Momentum is part of that effort.”

Among other significant details in the new AUCC report:

• University research made up 38 percent of all research activities in Canada in 2004, and all sectors -- including governments, the private sector and not-for-profits -- have increased their investments in university research over the past 10 years;
• Research funding is showing results: between 1999 and 2003, universities saw an 84 percent increase in the value of their industrial research contracts, an 82 percent jump in the number of new licenses and 91 percent increase in new patent applications, and a 25 percent increase in the number of spin-off companies;
• Canada is being branded internationally as a “hot spot” for research, and as an important research partner, with Canadian university researchers successfully attracting substantial international funding and ranking among the top in the world in scientific publication in areas such as business and economics, psychiatry and psychology, and environment.

But the report points out that Canada faces major competition internationally as other countries continue to invest in R&D to fuel competitiveness, economic prosperity and quality of life. Countries like Sweden, Finland and Japan continue to be world leaders in terms of their overall investment in R&D as compared to their GDP.

“There’s no doubt that countries around the world increasingly recognize that their capacity for research and innovation remains closely tied to economic prosperity and the well-being of their citizens,” said Ms. Morris. “Many countries continue to invest heavily in university research, human capital and knowledge.”

The full report is available on the web at www.aucc.ca/momentum.

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The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada is the voice of Canada's universities. It represents 90 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

For additional information on this release and AUCC, please contact:

Jeff Pappone
Media relations officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel.: (613) 563-3961, ext. 330
E-mail: jpappone@aucc.ca