RESEARCH INFOSOURCE INC.
Across the board gains for Canada's Innovation Leaders at Universities, Hospitals and Colleges; Corporate results disappoint

• Canada's Top 50 Research Universities
• Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals
• Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges
• Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders
• Canada's Top 15 Federal Government R&D Performers

Canada's Top 50 Research Universities reported combined research income of $10.06 billion in Fiscal 2024 - a respectable increase of 4.8% over Fiscal 2023. Research income expanded at 32 universities and declined at 18 others. University of Toronto again led the national university ranking and the Medical tier with $1.59 billion of research income, up 10.8%. University of Waterloo topped the Comprehensive universities ($198.5 million, down -11.5%, 15th overall) and Université du Québec à Chicoutimi led the Undergraduate tier ($39.9 million, up 14.8%, 32nd overall). Top-placed universities by research income growth were: University of Saskatchewan (Medical tier, up 34.6%), University of Windsor (Comprehensive tier, up 37.0%) and Royal Military College of Canada (Undergraduate tier, up 24.6%). Research Infosource designated three institutions as Research Universities of the Year 2025 in their respective categories: University of Toronto (Medical), University of Waterloo (Comprehensive) and Ontario Tech University (Undergraduate).

Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals reported combined research spending of $3.82 billion in Fiscal 2024, a sizeable gain of 10.4% over Fiscal 2023. Research spending increased at 36 health organizations and declined at 4 others. The three leaders on the Top 40 list were: University Health Network (UHN) with outlays of $599.3 million, up 11.2% from Fiscal 2023; Hospital for Sick Children ranked in second spot ($311.2 million, up 1.3%); followed by McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in third ($244.8 million, down -5.2%). The three health organizations posting the greatest research spending growth by tier were: Hamilton Health Sciences (Large, up 36.7%), CHU Sainte-Justine (Medium, up 19.1%) and Bruyère Health (Small, up 23.2%).

Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges reported a total of $314.8 million of sponsored research income in the form of grants and contracts in Fiscal 2024, a substantial gain of 19.8% over Fiscal 2023. Research income increased at 32 colleges and declined at 18 others. Cégep de Trois-Rivières was the national leader with $24.8 million of research income, up 47.6%, followed by Mohawk College ($18.4 million, up 14.3%) and in third place, NAIT - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology ($14.2 million, down -18.9%). The top three colleges that posted the greatest research income growth by tier were: Fanshawe College (Large, up 100.8%), Bow Valley College (Medium, up 153.2%) and Holland College (Small, up 211.0%).

Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders posted $15.39 billion in combined research and development (R&D) spending in Fiscal 2024. This was a decline of -1.5% over Fiscal 2023. R&D spending increased at 59 companies and declined at 40 others. The leading corporate R&D spender was once again Shopify Inc., investing $1.87 billion in R&D, down -19.8%, followed by Open Text Corporation ($1.22 billion, up 33.3%) and Magna International Inc. dropping to third spot ($1.20 billion, up 2.9%). The top three R&D spending growth leaders overall were: Satellos Bioscience Inc. (up 122.3%), Verses AI Inc. (up 107.5%) and NervGen Pharma Corp. (up 95.5%).

Canada's Top 15 Federal Government R&D Performers reported a total of $2.38 billion of intramural R&D spending in Fiscal 2024, a gain of 7.8% over Fiscal 2023. The top three Federal Government R&D performers were: National Research Council Canada, spending $806 million to R&D, up 4.5%, followed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ($390 million, up 7.1%) and National Defence in third ($248 million, up 7.4%). R&D spending increased fastest at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (up 221.4%), Public Health Agency of Canada (up 28.6%) and Health Canada (up 16.3%).

The theme of Canada's Innovation Leaders 2025 is Research for Canada's future and the future of Canadian research and there is a special Focus on Brain Health Research. In addition to showcasing Canada's leading research universities, hospitals, colleges, companies and federal government departments and agencies, explore how our researchers and institutions are shaping a prosperous future and driving innovations to tackle complex global challenges. Discover what the best of the best are accomplishing in Canada's Innovation Achievements, gain insights from our Leaders' and Researchers' Corners, and delve into other compelling editorial content.

For more information: Dive into Canada's Innovation Leaders 2025 for complete analysis, additional rankings, the Focus on Brain Health Research, Research for Canada's future and the future of Canadian research, other editorial content and more...

See full content of CIL2025: https://researchinfosource.com/cil/2025