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Federal government expenditures on scientific activities, 2007/2008 (intentions)

This bulletin presents recent statistical information on the performance and funding of federal government expenditures on scientific activities, 2007/2008. The statistics presented are derived from a survey of federal science and technology (S&T) activities of federal departments and agencies. The data in this publication are consistent with expenditures of departments and agencies as reported in the Main Estimates 2007/2008, but do not reflect changes to 2007/2008 spending plans which may result from supplementary estimates or other departmental planning decisions.

Between 1995/1996 and 2007/2008 federal spending on science and technology as a percentage of the total budget peaked in 2005/2006 at 5.1% and intentions indicate that the funding of S&T has begun a decline although it will remain much higher than the 3.5% registered in 1995/1996 (table 1-1 ).

Federal investment in research and development (R&D) stood at 3.3% of the total federal budget in 2005/2006 with indications of decline in 2007/2008 (2.9%), again much higher than the 2.1% reported for 1995/1996 (table 1-1 ).

Related scientific activities (RSA) including scientific and general data collection saw their peak in dedicated federal spending as a percentage of the total budget earlier first hitting 1.9% in 2001/2002. Federal S&T spending intentions indicate a contraction of RSA spending in 2007/2008 (table 1-1 ).

In terms of constant 1997 dollars, federal S&T spending peaked in 2005/2006 and intentions indicate that this spending may be in a plateau. Federal S&T spending underwent a major increase between 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 due in part to the introduction of the Canada research chairs. (Table 1-1 )

The major federal departments and agencies in 2007/2008 investing in S&T activities will include the three funding councils: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council ($905 million); Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($876 million); and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council ($622 million) (table 3-3 ).

There will be four leading departments and agencies in S&T spending: National Research Council ($757 million); Statistics Canada ($641 million); Environment Canada ($581 million); and Natural Resources Canada ($573 million) (table 3-3 ).

The socio-economic objectives of federal S&T investment differ depending upon whether the spending is by federal departments or agencies (intramural spending) or is funding for S&T activities by non-federal organisations (extramural spending). Based on the level of investment, the leading intramural socio-economic objective in 2005/2006 was social structures and relationships at $1.0 billion whereas protection and improvement of human health ($1.2 billion) led for extramural S&T spending (table 3-4 ).

When looking at R&D spending by socio-economic objective, almost 15%, or $336 million of the $2.3 billion federal intramural R&D expenditure, went to agriculture in 2005/2006 with the next largest expenditure ($245 million) going to defence. On the other hand, extramural R&D spending was directed towards protection and improvement of human health (30% or $1.1 billion) and industrial production and technology (24%, or $884 million) (table 4-3 ).

The leading federal departments or agencies performing R&D in 2007/2008 will continue to be the National Research Council ($544 million), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ($307 million), National Defence ($238 million), Natural Resources Canada ($229 million), and Environment Canada ($183 million) (table 7 ).