Attention: Assignment Editors, Business Editors, Education Reporters

Toronto - January 15, 2002 - Led by the University of Toronto, Ontario's universities attracted the lion's share of sponsored research income in fiscal 2000, according to Canada's Top Research Universities Report released today by Research Infosource Inc. (www.researchinfosource.com).

Looking at the provincial rankings for 2000, Ontario with 18 universities recorded the highest amount of total sponsored research income, nearly $1.06 billion. Next came Québec's 16 universities, posting $817 million, Alberta with 5 universities attracted $345 million, while British Columbia, with 7 accounted for only $229 million. Nova Scotia's 10 institutions put it in 5th spot with just over $93 million.

"Ranking Canada's universities by sponsored research income from government, non-government, corporate, or granting council sources always finds 3 or 4 Ontario universities among the top 10", says Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource Inc. "Posting over $370 million in sponsored research income for 2000, the University of Toronto alone brought in more than all five of Alberta's universities combined."

Overall, the 67 Canadian universities tracked in the report posted $2.8 billion in sponsored research income in fiscal 2000, an increase of 24% over 1999. On average each institution brought in just over $41 million in sponsored research income. Alberta's universities pulled in an average of $69 million per institution, the highest among all the provinces. Ontario came second with an average of nearly $59 million, followed by Québec at $51 million. Saskatchewan stands in 4th place with $41 million. Newfoundland, on the strength of its only university, Memorial, holds 5th position with $34 million, nudging British Columbia into 6th place with almost $33 million.

Measuring total sponsored research income per capita for Fiscal 2000, Alberta universities lead the pack, according to Research Infosource's Canada's Top Research Universities Report. Alberta institutions attracted $115 for each Alberta resident. Second place Québec posted $111 per resident, Nova Scotia is in 3rd place with $99, Ontario is 4th at $90, and Saskatchewan rounds out the top five with $80. British Columbia ranked 8th, attracting only $56 per B.C. resident.

Alberta's universities captured top spots in research intensity, dollars per full-time faculty, in Fiscal 2000. The five institutions reported sponsored research income of $112,300 per faculty member. Québec came second with $104,800, followed by third place Ontario at $86,100. British Columbia was fourth with $61,700 followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba with $59,800 and $54,400 respectively.

Canada's Top Research Universities Report contains information on 67 Canadian universities drawn from Statistics Canada and Research Infosource's own Canadian University R&D Database.

Research Infosource Inc., publishers of Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List, Canada's Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders List and Report, is a division of The Impact Group, one of Canada's leading consulting firms specializing in science and technology, policy, research, communications, marketing and education.

Information: Ron Freedman, CEO Research Infosource Inc. (416) 481-7070 ext. 31
Janet Sandor, Director of Communications (416) 481-7070 ext. 25