Yesterday, Statistics Canada released Industrial Research and Development characteristics and intentions (2017) with new data on expected R&D spending in 2017 and characteristics of provincial industrial R&D spending for 2015. A redesign of the Annual Survey of Research and Development in Canadian Industry has led to results from 2014 not being directly comparable to earlier data. 

 
In Canada, research and development(R&D) expenditures are expected to decline from $18.2 billion in 2014 to $17.2 billion in 2015, $16.6 billion in preliminary estimates for 2016.  Intended business R&D spending is up 0.7 per cent in 2017 to $16.7 billion.

The largest industrial research and development expenditures are in information and communications technology (ICT) sectors. This is followed by manufacturing (excluding ICT) and scientific research and development sectors.   

Nova Scotia business enterprise research and development intramural expenditures were $156 million in 2015. As a share of GDP, business R&D expenditures in Nova Scotia were 0.38 per cent. The largest share of expenditures occurred in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia with the presence of R&D performing manufacturers and technology-based service firms in these provinces.




There were 156,062 business research and development personnel in Canada in 2015. Nova Scotia accounted 1,599 business R&D personnel or 0.36 per cent of total employment.

Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM tables 358-0510 and 358-0518