Canada ranks first among G7 countries in higher education research and development spending as a share of the economy. Since 2006, the federal government has provided over CAD 9 billion to support science, technology and innovation. In its 2012 report entitled The State of Science and Technology in Canada, the Council of Canadian Academies remarks that Canada’s excellence in disciplines like clinical medicine, physics and astronomy, psychology, information technologies and cognitive sciences, is internationally renowned. According to the same report, Canada also thrives in international science and technology collaboration and human capital, with a net migration of researchers into the country over the last ten years.

As other economies strive to become more innovative and productive, especially Brazil and Asia, the Canadian government identified continuing investment in research and technology development as crucial to secure Canada’s position.  

In this regard, the federal Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes a range of new measures to support world class research and innovation, with an overall budget of CAD 454 million for 2013-14 and 2014-15. For instance, the government will provide CAD 37 million annually to strengthen research partnerships between post-secondary institutions and industry, a multi-year funding of CAD 165 million to support genomics research, and another CAD 225 million for leading-edge research infrastructure.

Through its Economic Action Plan 2013, the government hopes to position Canada for sustainable, long-term economic prosperity and a higher quality of life.

Government of Canada