College Research Income Leaps by 30.8%

BC Institute of Technology Heads National College Ranking

TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's 50 leading research colleges posted a record total of $152.8 million of research income in Fiscal 2013, an increase of 30.8% over the previous year according to Research Infosource Inc., which released its annual ranking of Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges today.  With Fiscal 2013 research income totalling $15.2 million, up from $5.2 million the previous year, British Columbia Institute of Technology took the number 1 position among colleges nationally.  Northern Alberta Institute of Technology ($9.7 million of research income) and George Brown College ($9.3 million) rounded out the top 3 colleges on the list.

"Canada's research colleges and Cégeps are gaining in importance on the national research scene," said Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource.  "Although they lag universities and hospitals in total funded research, their rate of growth is very high."

Fiscal 2013's income growth of 30.8% follows Fiscal 2012 growth of 30.7%.  The number of college faculty involved in research also increased by 10.6% to 1,874 from 1,694.  Research intensity – research income per faculty – expanded by 18.2%.  Confirming the positive trend, 40 colleges saw their research income increase and only 10 experienced year-on-year declines.

This year, Research Infosource also included a spotlight on college research activity which has correspondingly expanded.  In total, the Top 50 reported engaging in hundreds of research partnerships with external organizations and completed a similar number of projects during the year.  Algonquin College led its peers both in number of partnerships (120) and completed projects (180).

"Colleges and Cégeps have a unique place in the country's national system of innovation," said Mr. Freedman.  "They differentiate themselves by concentrating on practical, applied research that is focussed on the needs of local firms and organizations."

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

About Research Infosource Inc.
Research Infosource Inc. is Canada's source of R&D intelligence.  Drawing from proprietary databases, Research Infosource Inc. publishes Canada's Innovation Leaders, which includes Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders List, Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List, Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals List and Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges List.  As well, Research Infosource publishes specialized reports and The Innovation Atlas of Canada™ – a web-based research and innovation mapping and data information product.

SOURCE: Research Infosource Inc.

For additional information or for an interview, please contact: Ron Freedman, CEO, Research Infosource Inc., Telephone: [phone], ext. 31, Cell: 416-879-9000, Email: [email protected]