Science and technology

Description: Use of artificial intelligence (AI) by businesses and organizations in producing goods or delivering services over the last 12 months, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), business employment size, type of business, business activity and majority ownership, second quarter of 2024.

Description: Extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) has reduced tasks previously performed by employees and the impact of AI use on total employment, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), business employment size, type of business, business activity and majority ownership, second quarter of 2024.

Description: Changes made by business or organization when using artificial intelligence (AI) to produce goods or deliver services, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), business employment size, type of business, business activity and majority ownership, second quarter of 2024.

Description: New or significantly improved goods or services brought onto the market from 2020 to 2023, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), business employment size, type of business, business activity and majority ownership, second quarter of 2024.

Description: Innovation of new products or services and most significant recent product innovation was new to its market, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), business employment size, type of business, business activity and majority ownership, second quarter of 2024.

Description: This article explores trends in patent applications made by Canadian-resident businesses for advanced technologies from 2001 to 2019, drawing on Eurostat's aggregation of high-tech patents. Approximately one-third of applications fall under high-tech categories, the bulk of which were associated with Communication, Computer, and Automated business equipment technologies. While these fields saw growth until 2012, a subsequent decline occurred, notably in Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing. Biotechnology, Semiconductors, and Lasers showed limited dynamism, while aviation technology applications surged by nearly twentyfold over the period.

Description: This study compares the Government of Canada’s direct and indirect measures to support R&D, as captured by business innovation and growth support (BIGS) programs and the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program. BIGS and SR&ED are two central instruments that the Canadian government uses to stimulate R&D expenditures in the business sector.

Description: This classification system was developed conjointly by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Statistics Canada which is the custodian. This shared standard classification, inspired by the Frascati Model 2015 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), will be used by the federal granting agencies and Statistics Canada to collect, and disseminate data related to research and development in Canada. The Canadian Research and Development Classification (CRDC) first official version was the 2020 Version 1.0, now being replaced by CRDC Version 2.0. The CRDC is revised within 2 years for minor changes, and every five years for major revisions. CRDC 2020 Version 2.0 is composed of 3 main pieces: the type of activity or TOA (with 3 categories), the field of research or FOR (with 1,671 fields at the lowest level) and socioeconomic objective or SEO (with 85 main groups at the lowest level).

Description:

Percentage of enterprises that used specific types of advanced or emerging technologies, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a one-year observation period. Advanced technologies include material handling, supply chain or logistics technologies; design or information control technologies; processing or fabrication technologies; clean technologies; security or advanced authentication systems; business intelligence technologies; and other types of advanced technologies. Emerging technologies include nanotechnology, biotechnology, geomatics or geospatial technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), integrated Internet of Things (IoT) systems, blockchain technologies, and other types of emerging technologies.

Description:

Percentage of enterprises that did not adopt or use advanced technologies for specific reasons, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a one-year observation period. Reasons for not adopting or using advanced technologies include not convinced of economic benefit; difficulty in obtaining financing; high cost of advanced technologies; investment not necessary for continuing operations; lack of technical skills required to support this type of investment; organizational culture too inflexible; decisions made by parent, affiliates or subsidiary businesses; lack of technical support or services (from consultants or vendors); lack of information regarding advanced technology; difficulty in integrating new advanced technologies with existing systems, standards and processes; other reasons for not adopting or using advanced technologies; and adoption or use of advanced technologies not applicable to this business’s activities.

Description: The Canadian Statistical Geospatial Explorer empowers users to discover geo enabled data holdings of Statistics Canada at various levels of geography including at the neighbourhood level. Users are able to visualize, thematically map, spatially explore and analyze, export and consume data in various formats. Users can also view the data superimposed on satellite imagery, topographic and street layers.

Description: This dashboard shows traffic count data that is obtained from traffic camera imagery using a computer vision-based system developed at the Data Exploration and Integration Lab (DEIL) at Statistics Canada. The system periodically pulls traffic imagery from the Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) of municipal and provincial traffic camera programs. Vehicle detection was implemented using the open source You Only Look Once version 3 (YOLOv3) object detection model that was trained on the Common Objects in Context (COCO) dataset. The output of the model is used to generates real-time counts of the detected vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles).

Description:

Percentage of enterprises for which multinational organizations were among competitors in the main geographical market, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a one-year observation period.

Description:

Percentage of enterprises that introduced product (good or service) innovations that were new to one of their markets, new to this business only, and new to one of their markets and new to this business only, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a three-year observation period.

Description:

Percentage of enterprises that conducted specific innovation activities, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a one-year observation period. Innovation activities include research and experimental development; acquisition or development of advanced technology; design activities related to other organizations; employee training specifically for innovation projects; consultation activities with external experts or internal workgroups; activities related to the development and implementation of new marketing methods; market preparation activities directly linked to the introduction of new goods or services; and other innovation activities. Estimates refer to fiscal year 2017 (end date falling after January 1, 2017 and on or before December 31, 2017).

Description:

Percentage of enterprises for which specific reasons for employing personnel outside Canada were not at all important, somewhat important, important, very important or not applicable, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a one-year observation period. Reasons for employing personnel outside Canada include: reduced labour costs, reduced costs other than labour costs, access to new markets, increased access to supply chains or regional trade networks, increased sales, proximity to important customers, access to specialized knowledge or technologies, tax or other financial incentives, improved logistics, lack of available labour in Canada and other reasons for employing personnel outside Canada. Estimates refer to fiscal year 2017 (end date falling after January 1, 2017 and on or before December 31, 2017).

Description:

Percentage of enterprises that moved activities from outside Canada into Canada, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a three-year observation period.

Description:

Percentage of enterprises that moved specific business activities from outside Canada into Canada, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a three-year observation period. Business activities include production of goods, distribution and logistics services, call and help centre services, marketing and sales services, information and communication technology (ICT) services, professional services, engineering and research and development (R&D) services, general management services, and all other business activities.

Description:

Percentage of enterprises for which specific reasons for bringing production of goods activities to Canada were not at all important, somewhat important, important, very important or not applicable, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a three-year observation period. Reasons for bringing business activities to Canada include cost savings from locating abroad did not materialize (lower operating costs), labour costs abroad have risen (lower labour costs in Canada), better quality of labour or resources in Canada, lower Canadian dollar, consolidating number of suppliers, tax or other financial incentives, concerns about intellectual property, proximity to customers or other logistical issues, and other reasons related to production of goods.

Description:

Percentage of enterprises for which specific reasons for bringing distribution and logistics services activities to Canada were not at all important, somewhat important, important or very important, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and enterprise size, based on a three-year observation period. Reasons for bringing business activities to Canada include cost savings from locating abroad did not materialize (lower operating costs), labour costs abroad have risen (lower labour costs in Canada), better quality of labour or resources in Canada, lower Canadian dollar, consolidating number of suppliers, tax or other financial incentives, concerns about intellectual property, proximity to customers or other logistical issues, and other reasons related to distribution and logistics services.

Description:

The provincial research organizations account for only a small proportion of the total scientific activities conducted in Canada, approximately 1% of the estimated expenditures for Research and development in 1997.

Description:

New firms are seen to play a key role in the innovation process, especially in certain key sectors of the economy. This study therefore examines the differences in the profiles of successful new firms in science-based industries and other industries. The firms that are examined are entrants who survey into their early teen years. The study examines numerous factors that are seen to influence the success of new businesses. These include the competitive environment, business strategies and the financial structure of the businesses.

Successful new firms in science-based industries are found to differ in a number of dimensions from new firms in other industries. They are more likely to be exporters. They face greater technological change and intense competition with regards to the rate at which new products are being introduced. They tend to put more emphasis on quality, the frequent introduction of new products and the customization of products. They make greater use of information technology. They place more stress on new technology development, research and development facilities and the use of intellectual property. They are much more likely to innovate and they place more importance on recruiting skilled labour and on training. Finally, they are more likely to use non-traditional financial measures to evaluate performance and they are less likely to rely on secured credit for financing both their research and development activity and their machinery and equipment that are firms in other sectors.

Description:

The linkages between university research and its contribution to national and regional economies are not well understood. During the summer of 1998, Statistics Canada conducted a pilot survey of intellectual property (IP) commercialization in the higher education sector to begin to measure some of the contributions. The voluntary questionnaire was sent to 81 universities and degree-granting colleges, of which 74 responded. The results show that most universities participate in a wide variety of activities including identifying, protecting, promoting and commercializing IP.

Description:

Statistics Canada is engaged in the "Information System for Science and Technology Project" to develop useful indicators of activity and a framework to tie them together into a coherent picture of science and technology (S&T) in Canada. The working papers series is used to publish results of the different initiatives conducted within this project. The data are related to the activities, linkages and outcomes of S&T. Several key areas are covered such as: innovation, technology diffusion, human resources in S&T and interrelations between different actors involved in S&T. This series also presents data tabulations taken from regular surveys on research and development (R&D) and S&T and made possible by the project.

Description:

Entry and exit are important phenomena. This paper reviews the evidence on the size of this process and its contribution to productivity and innovation. It then develops a detailed portrait of the characteristics of new firms that survive and those that fail. In doing so, it examines the type of competencies that are developed in both groups of firms. It asks which competencies are developed by new firms. In particular, it focuses on the innovative capabilities of new firms. It shows that small firms in general and entrants in particular are heterogeneous when it comes to their innovative activity. The types of innovative activity in which they are engaged vary widely. Some focus on research and development (R&D) and new products. Others focus on new technologies. Still others stress the development of human capital. In addition, this paper examines the competitive environment that new firms face and the connection between growth and innovation. It also examines the complementary skills that are employed by innovators. Finally, the paper focuses on the causes of failure in the firm population. It extends earlier work that finds that failing firms differ from surviving firms in terms of basic competencies-management, financial management and marketing capabilities.

Description:

The framework described here is intended as a basic operational instrument for systematic development of statistical information respecting the evolution of science and technology and its interactions with the society, the economy and the political system of which it is a part.

Description:

Innovation is at the heart of economic growth and development. It is through innovation that new products are brought to market, new production processes developed and organizational change realized. Given existing cross-industry variations in structure, competitiveness and maturity, it is reasonable to expect that firms in different industries will innovate for different reasons, in different ways and with different results. This report focuses on how the innovation activities of firms in three dynamic service industries are conditioned by their different environments.

Through an understanding of what competitive pressures come into play and how these pressures affect the type of innovation that is performed, Innovation in dynamic service industries goes some way in illustrating how innovation regimes differ substantially, and quite logically, from one industry to another.

This is the fifth in the series of publications on innovation and technological change in Canada. One of the earlier studies investigated the type of innovation taking place in the manufacturing sector (Baldwin and Da Pont, Innovation in Canadian manufacturing enterprises, Catalogue No. 88-513-XPB). Two others focused on advanced manufacturing technologies. The first (Baldwin and Sabourin, Technology adoption in Canadian manufacturing, Catalogue No. 88-512-XPB) outlined the intensity of use of these technologies. The second (Baldwin, Sabourin, and Rafiquzzaman, Benefits and problems associated with technology adoption, Catalogue No. 88-514-XPE) investigated the determinants of adoption. Another study (Baldwin, Innovation and intellectual property, Catalogue No. 88-515-XPE) examined how innovative firms protect their intellectual property after they have innovated.

Description:

Considerable attention has been directed at understanding the structural changes that are generating an increased need for skilled workers. These changes are perceived to be the result of developments associated with the emergence of the new knowledge economy, whose potential is often linked to the growth of new technology-based firms (NTBFs). Where are these firms to be found? Related work on changes in technology and innovativeness has been accompanied by the creation of taxonomies that classify industries as high-tech or high-knowledge, based primarily on the characteristics of large firms. There is a temptation to use these taxonomies to identify new technology-based firms only within certain sectors. This paper uses a special survey that collected data on new firms to argue that this would be unwise.

The paper investigates the limitations of existing classification schemes that might be used to classify industries as high- or low-tech, as advanced or otherwise. Characteristically unidimensional in scope, many of these taxonomies employ conceptual and operational measures that are narrow and incomplete. Consequently, previous rankings that identify sectors as high- or low-tech using these measures obscure the degree of innovativeness and human capital formation exhibited by certain industries. In a policy environment wherein emotive 'scoreboard' classifications have direct effects on resource allocation, the social costs of misclassification are potentially significant.

Using a comparative methodology, this study investigates the role that conceptualization plays in devising taxonomies of high- and low-tech industries. Far from producing definitive classifications, existing measures of technological advancement are found to be wanting when their underpinnings are examined closely. Our objective in the current analysis is to examine the limitations of standard classification schemes, particularly when applied to new small firms, and to suggest an alternative framework based on a competency-model of the firm.

Description:

This release provides data on the Research and development activities of the private nonprofit sector.

Description:

This study uses the results of the 1991 Survey of Research and Development in Canadian Industry to examine exchanges of funds between Canadian firms for R & D purposes. Through such exchanges of funds, Canadian companies form alliances that collectively constitute a network that fosters exchanges of knowledge. These networks are widely dispersed, covering the great majority of industrial activities.

Four case studies are presented. They reveal that different industries pursue different alliance strategies. R & D alliances in the information technology, business services, oil, and pulp and paper sectors are examined. The alliance strategies are diverse, encompassing vertical integration of large related firms, a collection of small companies providing services to all sectors, and industry-specific networks in which firms have their R & D performed by research institutes. Understanding R & D alliances helps shed some light on the intricacy of the national innovation system concept.

Description: This pilot survey will provide information about federal science expenditures towards developing countries by type of relevant activities in science and technologies and about obstacles and cooperative arrangements with foreign partners.

Description: The statistical information collected by this survey is useful for better understanding the measurement of the effort invested by Canada in research and development directed toward developing countries. The data collected by this survey contribute to the federal research and development strategy and are covered in an agreement signed with the Office of the National Science Advisor.

Description: Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Estimates are funding based investments in sponsored research and development (R&D) expenditures in the higher education sector in Canada.

Description: The survey collects expenditure data on health research and development activities by therapeutic class in the Canadian business enterprise sector.

Description: Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division is engaged in a joint project with Industry Canada to investigate the commercialization of innovation process in Canadian firms of small and medium size.

Description: The objective of this survey is to better understand the issues and difficulties encountered by enterprises performing research and development (R&D) work, at low levels of expenditures.

Description: Statistics Canada has undertaken this survey to provide statistical information on the strategic decisions, innovation activities and operational tactics used by Canadian enterprises. The survey also collects information on the involvement of enterprises in global value chains.

Description: The survey of intellectual property management (SIPM) provides statistical information on the use and management of Intellectual Property (IP) by Canadian enterprises in selected industry groups.

Description: Results from this survey will assist in the formulation of key intellectual property (IP) indicators for the federal government. The data collected will be used by federal science policy analysts.

Description: Research and Development (R&D) personnel data are essential to assure the availability of pertinent statistical information to monitor science and technology (S&T) related activities in Canada and to support the development of science and technology policy.