TORONTO, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - Today, The Impact Group, one of Canada's leading science and technology policy consulting companies, released a new study (Knowledge Transfer Through Research Contracting) highlighting the scale and scope of research contracting taking place at Canadian universities and hospitals/health authorities (full report at www.impactg.com). The study, which was based on data supplied by a sample of 17 universities and 4 hospitals or health authorities, found that these organizations conducted 2,645 research projects in 2008-09, under contract to outside organizations, with a total value of $257.5 million.
Contract research is the largest single category of research funding at Canadian universities and hospitals/health authorities - exceeding the annual funding provided by any public sector research granting agency. (Total contracting for all universities and hospitals/health authorities in Canada was $1.154 billion in 2006, $1.274 billion in 2007 and $1.971 billion in 2008 - accounting for between 20-30% of all research funding in those years.)
Sponsored by a group of public sector organizations concerned with research, the study examined the characteristics of contract research performed by universities and hospitals/health authorities - over and above research funded by grants and contributions. Project leader Ron Freedman, a Partner in the firm, explained why the study is so pivotal:
"Research contracting is arguably the most important mechanism for
research knowledge transfer from higher education institutions, yet it
flies under the radar of policymakers. A great deal of effort is being
devoted to supporting the commercialization of technology developed in
universities and hospitals. Yet, a more important source of knowledge
transfer and economic and social returns is the huge volume of research
contracting between universities and hospitals and outside organizations
every year. Such contracting revenues easily eclipse the $53 million a
year of revenue from traditional technology commercialization activities.
Our study shows that the real action, and the primary benefit for society
and the economy, is in providing knowledge to external organizations that
have an identified need and are willing to pay hard money for results."
Key findings include:
- A rough calculation suggests that the $1.154 billion of contract
research in 2006 likely employed in excess of 11,000 highly qualified
personnel - graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, technicians and
technologists, administrative staff, and suppliers. Research contracts
also provided overhead funds to the host institutions, helping to
defray some of their core operating expenses.
- Research contracts are dominated by projects in the Health/Life
sciences disciplines. Over 40% of 1,888 sample contracts let to
universities and hospitals/health authorities were classified either
as Health (1.6%), Life Science (24.0%) or Medicine (15.9%). The next
largest category was Engineering (19.1%). Social Science (12.5%) and
Humanities (4.2%) projects together accounted for 16.7% of the
contracts classified by number.
- Institutions reported that they had signed contracts with
organizations in 22 different countries during the study period.
Canadian organizations were dominant (83.8% of the total), followed
by organizations in the U.S. (12.3%) and Europe (3.1% in total).
- Organizations located in Canada placed contracts with a total value
of $174.7 million, followed by organizations in the U.S.
($69.1 million) and Europe ($6.5 million). Canadian sources accounted
for 68.6% of the total value of contracts, compared with 27.1% for
U.S. sources and a total of 2.6% for European sources.
- The Federal Government was the largest single research contractor both
by number and by dollar value, providing $49.4 million for research.
Foreign Non-Profit organizations ($34.3 million), Canadian Companies
($30.3 million) and Canadian Non-Profit ($28.4 million) organizations,
followed by Provincial Governments ($27.3 million) were the largest
research funders overall.
- The four hospitals/health authorities that participated in the survey
conducted 782 of 2,645 research projects in the project database -
29.6% of the total - and accounted for $40,534,207 out of $257,492,721
total research funds - 15.7% of the total.
- Canadian companies funded a higher proportion of contracts in Atlantic
Canada than in other parts of the country. Canadian companies were
responsible for 40.2% of all Atlantic contracts, slightly more than
the Federal Government (37.8%).
According to Mr. Freedman "Canadian university and hospital researchers are doing a great job of transferring their knowledge to companies, governments and the non-profit sector through research contracts. Initiatives that raise awareness among companies and researchers of each other's needs and capabilities and support research contracting, will pay big dividends for Canada."
View the report at: www.impactg.com
For further information: Ron Freedman, Partner, (416) 481-7070 ext. 31; Janet Sandor, Director of Communications, (416) 481-7070 ext. 25