College Research Income Growth Cools, Rises by only 4.7%

George Brown College Heads National Ranking

TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2015 /CNW/ - Canada's leading research colleges posted a combined $158 million of research income this year, up 4.7% from last year's record total, according to Research Infosource Inc., which today released its annual ranking of Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges.  Though it moved in a positive direction, Fiscal 2014's growth was a sharp decline from the 38.8% expansion seen in Fiscal 2013.  Toronto's George Brown College headed the Top 50 with $14.2 million of research income, with funds growing 53.5% over Fiscal 2013.  Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe captured 2^nd place with $9.4 million of research income, followed in 3^rd place by SAIT Polytechnic at $7.2 million.

"In normal circumstances a 4.7% increase in research income would be considered healthy", said Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource.  "But the Fiscal 2014 result comes after two strong years of 30%+ income growth, meaning growth slowed substantially last year."

While income growth was slowing, the number of faculty engaged in research increased by 14.3%.  Colleges also increased the number of active research partnerships they engaged in by 15.6%, and the number of completed research projects rose by 13.4%.  Leading the way in active partnerships were George Brown College (159 partnerships), Cégep de Trois-Rivières (137), Algonquin College (135), Cégep de La Pocatière (125) and Sheridan College (122).

"Colleges and cégeps are still carving out their unique applied research niche in the national R&D scene", said Mr. Freedman.  "It's hard to know if this year's slowdown in income growth is the result of changes in the research funding landscape, or whether it represents deeper challenges to the delivery model of college research.  Regardless, the overall trend is positive, as evidenced by the fact we saw income growing at 31 of the Top 50 colleges".

For complete information: http://www.researchinfosource.com/top50_col.php

SOURCE Research Infosource Inc.

Image with caption: "Research Infosource Inc. (CNW Group/Research Infosource Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151022_C4933_PHOTO_EN_526060.jpg

For an interview, please contact: Ron Freedman, CEO, Research Infosource, Telephone: [phone] ext. 22, Cell: 416-879-9000, Email: [email protected]