UK Science and Innovation Network summary: Canada
Updated 30 April 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-science-and-innovation-network-country-snapshot-canada/uk-science-and-innovation-network-country-snapshot-canada
Science and innovation landscape in Canada
Key statistics
Canada is the world’s tenth-largest economy, with an export focused market largely characterised by natural resources. In 2021, Canada’s gross domestic expenditures on research and development (GERD) reached $46.9 billion CAD, with preliminary estimates for 2022 reaching $48.2 billion CAD (Statistics Canada). This includes R&D spending for the natural sciences and engineering as well as the social sciences and humanities.
Compared to other OECD countries, Canada’s R&D intensity (the ratio of gross R&D expenditures to GDP) ranks 19th, falling below the G7 average. However, Canada’s strengths include its highly educated population, large entrepreneurial presence (comprising 17% of the workforce), and globally recognised academic institutions, including 3 universities in the global top 50.
Canada is home to 4 of the top 100 S&T clusters innovation clusters (Waterloo-Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa) and ranked 15th on the 2023 Global Innovation Index.
Government structures and policies
Federally, the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is responsible for policy on science, technology, and innovation. The main federally managed research and development institutes across Canada include:
Under Canada’s constitution, each province or territory has considerable autonomy and will have their own policies for science and innovation, often with considerable budgets to augment federal funding. Provincial/territorial governments are also responsible for universities and higher education policy and licensing.
UK partnership with Canada on science, technology and innovation (ST&I)
The research priorities of the UK and Canada are very much aligned. The 2 countries originally formalised their shared commitment through the signing of a Canada-UK Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on science, technology, and innovation in 2017. This was renewed by Secretary of State Michelle Donelan and Canadian science and innovation Minister Champagne in 2024, cementing Canada as a key partner in ST&I. The MoU sets out areas of cooperation between the 2 countries, including:
Digital and emerging technology
-
artificial intelligence
-
semiconductors
-
quantum technology
Life sciences
-
engineering biology
-
biomanufacturing
-
agricultural technology
Sustainability and net zero
-
critical minerals
-
ocean science and technology
-
clean energy technology
-
arctic and polar research
Partners and collaborators
SIN Canada’s collaborators span across the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, industry partners, and academia.
We work closely with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which has a strong working relationship with Canadian partners. Between 2020 to 2023, £350 million of UKRI grants included a Canadian collaborator. Funding agencies in the UK and Canada undertake many joint research funding calls. See the regularly updated list of funding opportunities available through UKRI.
SIN contacts
Our SIN officers, based at the British High Commission in Ottawa and the British Consulates General in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver, offer professional and authoritative assistance to British and Canadian stakeholders interested in developing connections with the science and innovation communities between both countries.
Our team can be reached by email: sinbox2@fcdo.gov.uk.