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August 28, 2018HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, 2016/2017 
Nova Scotia's higher education sector research and development (R&D) spending increased by 0.4 per cent in 2016/2017. This is lower than the average pace of growth since 2000. Across the country, higher education R&D spending slowed in all provinces (except Newfoundland and Labrador) relative to the average pace growth since 2000. Overall, Nova Scotia's higher education sector spent $416.5 million on R&D, up from $414.8 million in 2015/2016.
On a per capita basis, Nova Scotia's higher education sector has the second largest R&D expenditures in the country at $439 per capita. Only Newfoundland and Labrador's higher education institutions spend more on research and development.
When measured as a percentage of GDP, Nova Scotia's higher education R&D is the largest in the country at 1.0 per cent of GDP. Quebec's was the next highest at 0.9 per cent of GDP.
Higher education R&D spending has been trending up in Nova Scotia, growing from under 0.8 per cent of GDP in 2001/2002 to over 1.0 per cent of GDP in recent years. In the last 15 years, Canada's higher education R&D spending has fluctuated in a narrow range between 0.63 and 0.70 per cent of GDP.
Note: 'CAGR' = Compound annual growth rate
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 27-10-0025-01
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