Spending on research and development, 2013 (intentions)
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Released: 2013-11-28
Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D) are anticipated to decline 0.9% from 2012 to $30.4 billion in 2013.
While 2013 gross domestic expenditures on R&D intentions are below the $30.8 billion peak recorded in 2008, they are 23.3% higher than the $24.7 billion spent in 2003.
Research and development expenditures by performing sectors
Business enterprises expect to spend $15.6 billion on R&D in 2013, down 2.8% from the previous year and 6.8% below the pre-recession peak of $16.8 billion in 2007. This anticipated expenditure accounts for 51% of total spending on R&D by all performing sectors.
The higher education sector anticipates spending $11.9 billion on R&D, maintaining its position as the second largest R&D performing sector. This sector does not anticipate a significant change between 2012 and 2013 spending levels.
The federal government, the third largest performing sector, anticipates R&D spending at $2.5 billion, up 1.4% from 2012. However, between 2011 and 2012, federal R&D spending fell 8.0%, reflecting the conclusion of federal science and technology stimulus spending.
The remaining R&D performing sectors (provincial governments, provincial research organizations and private non-profit organizations) intend to spend about half a billion dollars in combined R&D for 2013, up 2.1% from 2012.
Research and development funding by sector
For R&D funding, the business enterprise sector is expected to finance $14.4 billion in 2013, followed by the federal government sector at $6.0 billion and the higher education sector at $5.3 billion.
R&D funding also includes the foreign sector, which is anticipated to finance $1.8 billion in 2013, relatively unchanged from 2012.
International comparisons
Internationally comparable science and technology data for 2011 are currently available from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Main Science and Technology Indicators. In 2011, Israel had the highest gross domestic expenditures on R&D as a proportion of its gross domestic product, at 4.38, while the OECD average was 2.37. This indicator for Canada is now updated to 1.74 for 2011 and 1.69 for 2012.
Note to readers
Provincial government research and development expenditures were obtained from provincial government participants to the 2010 Provincial Scientific Activities Survey. Provincial government data for 2012 and 2013 are based on an estimation model. Provincial research organization data are collected by a survey.
Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (GERD) data presented are performance based. This means funding sector data are derived from the source of funds indicated by the performing sectors. As a result, GERD funding sector values will not equal funding data collected and released by individual sectors.
Data on international comparisons come from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Main Science and Technology Indicators (Volume 13/1).
The publication Gross Domestic Expenditures on Research and Development in Canada (GERD) and the Provinces (Catalogue number88-221-X) is now available from the Browse by key resource module of our website, under Publications. This publication includes national estimates for 2003 to 2013 and provincial estimates for 2007 to 2011.
Contact information
For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).
To enquire about the methods, concepts or data quality of this release, contact Catherine ten Den (613-951-2188; catherine.tenden@statcan.gc.ca) or Cindy Carter (613-951-1856; cindy.carter@statcan.gc.ca), Investment Science and Technology Division.
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