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Federal Government Expenditures on Scientific Activities, 2008/2009 (intentions)

This bulletin presents recent statistical information on the performance and funding of federal government expenditures on scientific activities, 2008/2009. 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 2008/2009, but do not reflect changes to 2008/2009 spending plans which may result from supplementary estimates or other departmental planning decisions.

The federal government’s spending on S&T is expected to reach $9.9 billion in the fiscal year 2008/2009. Intended spending on research and development (R&D) for 2008/2009 will be an estimated $6.2 billion. Related scientific activities (RSA) including: the gathering, processing and analyzing of data; information services; museum services; feasibility and policy studies; and education support will receive $3.6 billion. (Table 1-1)

S&T will account for about 4.1% of the total federal government budget in 2008/2009, compared with 4.6% two years earlier. (Table 1-1)

Federal investment in R&D stood at 2.9% of the total federal budget in 2006/2007 with an intended decline in 2008/2009 (2.6%). (Table 1-1)

RSA will account for 1.5% of the total federal government budget in 2008/2009, compared with 1.7% in 2006/2007. (Table 1-1)

The major federal departments and agencies in 2008/2009 investing in S&T activities will include the three funding councils: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council ($1.0 billion); Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($902 million); and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council ($649 million). The four leading departments and agencies in S&T spending will be: National Research Council Canada ($784 million); Statistics Canada ($644 million); Environment Canada ($643 million); and Natural Resources Canada ($616 million). (Table 3-3)

The leading federal departments or agencies performing R&D in 2008/2009 will continue to be the National Research Council Canada ($590 million), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ($292 million), National Defence ($243 million) and Natural Resources Canada ($219 million). (Table 7)

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 2006/2007 was social structures and relationships at $1.1 billion whereas protection and improvement of human health ($1.2 billion) led for extramural S&T spending. (Table 3-4)

In terms of R&D socio-economic objectives, of the $2.4 billion federal intramural R&D expenditure in 2006/2007, $340 million went to agriculture, $339 million to production, distribution and rational utilization of energy; and $261 million to defence. These three objectives accounted for almost 40% of total intramural R&D socio-economic objective spending. On the other hand, extramural R&D spending was directed towards protection and improvement of human health (32% or $1.2 billion) and industrial production and technology (23%, or $831 million). (Table 4-3)

In terms of RSA socio-economic objectives, of the $2.5 billion federal intramural RSA expenditure in 2006/2007, $1.0 billion went to social structures and relationships; $265 million to control and care of the environment; and $261 million to protection and improvement of human health. These three objectives accounted for almost 61% of total intramural RSA socio-economic objective spending. (Table 5-3)