The combined sponsored research income of the colleges and cégeps on Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges reached $314.8 million in Fiscal 2024, a strong gain of 19.8% over Fiscal 2023. Research income was in the form of research grants and contracts. Research income increased at 32 institutions and decreased at 18 others.
The Fiscal 2024 results were driven by strong growth in both Total Government funding (up 16.2%, $233.1 million) and Total Non-Government funding (up 31.3%, $81.7 million). Research funding from all the granting councils contributed to the growth of Government funding: CFI (up 65.6%), SSHRC (up 42.9%), CIHR (up 14.9%) and NSERC (up 10.7%). Provincial Governments funding was up as well at 10.7%. Non-Government funding growth was a result of increased grants and contracts funding from both Industry (up 30.2%) and Non-Profit (up 53.7%) sources.
Cégep de Trois-Rivières led the national Top 50 Research Colleges ranking, reporting sponsored research income in Fiscal 2024 of $24.8 million, up 47.6% over Fiscal 2023. Mohawk College moved into second spot ($18.4 million, up 14.3.6%). NAIT - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology maintained third spot with $14.2 million, down -18.9%, followed by Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) ($12.3 million, down -29.4%). Lambton College in fifth spot ($11.6 million, down -44.9%), rounded out the Top 5.
College research spending tiers
The top colleges by size (Large, Medium and Small) were: Mohawk College (Large tier, $18.4 million, 2nd place overall), Lambton College (Medium tier, $11.6 million, 5th overall) and Cégep de Trois-Rivières ($24.8 million, 1st overall).
Research income growth
In Fiscal 2024, national research income growth was 19.8% overall. Thirty-two (32) colleges posted research income growth, compared to 18 where research income decreased. Top research income growth leaders in the Large tier were: Fanshawe College (up 100.8%), Algonquin College (up 62.0%), George Brown College (up 54.8%). The Medium tier winners included: Bow Valley College (up 153.2%), Cégep de Saint-Jérôme (up 119.8%) and Red Deer Polytechnic (up 93.1%). Small category growth leaders were: Holland College (up 211.0%), Assiniboine College (up 163.3%) and Cégep de Lévis (up 71.5%).
Research intensity
Research intensity at the national level in Fiscal 2024 increased by 17.8% to an average of $78,400 of research income per researcher. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) reported $162,400 of income per researcher as the Large tier leader, College of the North Atlantic was the most research intensive college in the Medium tier ($316,500 per researcher) and Holland College led the Small tier ($354,700 per researcher and the overall winner).
Research partnerships and projects
Measuring a college’s or cégep’s volume of research partnerships and completed projects provides a strong indication of its levels of activity and output. In Fiscal 2024, the Top 50 Research Colleges engaged in a total of 6,104 research partnerships and 4,358 completed research projects. A number of institutions stood out on these measures. Among Large institutions, Saskatchewan Polytechnic led, reporting 308 research partnerships. Lambton College (273) was the leader in the Medium category, while Cégep de Victoriaville headed the Small tier with 633 partnerships.
In terms of completed research projects the leaders were: Saskatchewan Polytechnic in the Large tier with 669 completed projects, RRC Polytech in the Medium tier completed 158 projects and Cégep de Trois-Rivières in the Small tier completed 471 projects.
Students provide a large element of the college research workforce and receive experience and payment in return. A total of 4,737 students engaged in some kind of paid applied research projects. The top institutions by category were: Centennial College in the Large tier employed a total of 689 students on its research projects, while Cambrian College in the Medium tier employed 231 and Cégep de Trois-Rivières in the Small category hired 89 students.
Provincial performance
Top 50 – Leading Provinces
Province
% of Total
Ontario (18)
35
Quebec (11)
27
Alberta (9)
20
British Columbia (3)
3
In Fiscal 2024, 18 Ontario colleges accounted for 35% of the Top 50 total ($108.8 million, up 14.4%) and 11 Quebec colleges and cégeps accounted for 27% ($84.6 million, up 27.9%). Alberta’s nine colleges were responsible for 20% of the national total ($63.8 million, up 16.3%) and British Columbia’s three institutions contributed 3% ($10.7 million, up 32.5%).
Average per-college provincial research income for Quebec’s colleges and cégeps was an average of $7.7 million and Alberta’s colleges attracted $7.1 million per institution on average. Ontario’s colleges attracted $6.0 million per institution on average. British Columbia colleges attracted $3.6 per institution on average.
This year and next
Fiscal 2024 was a strong year for research at the Top 50 Research Colleges. Government income expanded by 16.2% and income from industry expanded by 30.2%. Non-profit income grew by 53.7%. The number of formal research agreements was up 6.0%, and the tally of completed projects expanded by 12.1%. The number of students paid to participate in research grew by 6.1% in Fiscal 2024. Research income increased at 32 institutions and decreased at 18 others. All in all, a very respectable result.
It is no secret that the economy and government finances are facing headwinds. What is not clear is their impact next year on research in general, and college research in particular. Our colleges and cégeps are facing enrolment and funding headwinds. Economic challenges are looming in the corporate sector, and fiscal challenges are apparent in the government sector.
What has not changed is the vital role that colleges and cégeps can play in advancing innovation in their local and regional communities, by working with companies, non-profit organizations and governments to apply new technologies (and old) to current problems and opportunities. Institutions have traditionally been able to adapt to changing circumstances and advance the research agenda and we are confident that they will continue to do so.
Spotlight on College Research Activity FY2024
Research Income
Rank
Large
$000
1
Mohawk College
$18,373
2
NAIT - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
$14,196
3
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
$12,341
Rank
Medium
$000
1
Lambton College
$11,573
2
College of the North Atlantic
$9,811
3
Lethbridge Polytechnic
$9,440
Rank
Small
$000
1
Cégep de Trois-Rivières
$24,782
2
Cégep de La Pocatière
$10,462
3
Cégep de Thetford
$8,248
Research Income Growth (% Change FY2023-FY2024)
Rank
Large
%
1
Fanshawe College
100.8
2
Algonquin College
62.0
3
George Brown College
54.8
Rank
Medium
%
1
Bow Valley College
153.2
2
Cégep de Saint-Jérôme
119.8
3
Red Deer Polytechnic
93.1
Rank
Small
%
1
Holland College
211.0
2
Assiniboine College
163.3
3
Cégep de Lévis
71.5
Research Intensity ($ per Researcher)
Rank
Large
$000
1
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
$162.4
2
Mohawk College
$153.1
3
NAIT - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
$123.4
Rank
Medium
$000
1
College of the North Atlantic
$316.5
2
Lethbridge Polytechnic
$188.8
3
La Cité
$155.9
Rank
Small
$000
1
Holland College
$354.7
2
Selkirk College
$218.4
3
Cégep de Sept-Îles
$197.3
Research Partnerships*
Rank
Large
#
1
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
308
2
Humber Polytechnic
262
3
Sheridan College
196
Rank
Medium
#
1
Lambton College
273
2
RRC Polytech
150
3
Niagara College
114
Rank
Small
#
1
Cégep de Victoriaville
633
2
Cégep de Trois-Rivières
414
3
Cégep de La Pocatière
303
Completed Research Projects*
Rank
Large
#
1
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
669
2
Algonquin College
269
3
Mohawk College
167
Rank
Medium
#
1
RRC Polytech
158
2
Camosun College
145
3
Lambton College
121
Rank
Small
#
1
Cégep de Trois-Rivières
471
2
Cégep de La Pocatière
251
3
Holland College
131
Paid Student Researchers**
Rank
Large
#
1
Centennial College
689
2
Humber Polytechnic
373
3
Sheridan College
334
Rank
Medium
#
1
Cambrian College
231
2
Lambton College
219
3
Niagara College
138
Rank
Small
#
1
Cégep de Trois-Rivières
89
2
Selkirk College
84
3
Cégep de Thetford
57
Industry Research Income+
Rank
Large
$000
1
Humber Polytechnic
$3,821
2
NAIT - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
$3,438
3
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
$1,790
Rank
Medium
$000
1
Cégep de Saint-Jérôme
$3,286
2
Fleming College
$1,585
3
RRC Polytech
$1,581
Rank
Small
$000
1
Cégep de Trois-Rivières
$6,255
2
Cégep de La Pocatière
$5,229
3
Cégep de Lévis
$3,145
Industry Research Income+ as % of Total College Research Income
Rank
Large
%
1
Humber Polytechnic
36.1
2
NAIT - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
24.2
3
Centennial College
19.6
Rank
Medium
%
1
Cégep de Saint-Jérôme
44.6
2
Fleming College
22.7
3
RRC Polytech
21.7
Rank
Small
%
1
Cégep de La Pocatière
50.0
2
Cégep de Lévis
46.6
3
Cégep de Victoriaville
42.2
Industry Research Income+ Growth (% Change FY2023-FY2024)
Rank
Large
%
1
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
88.0
2
Centennial College
46.2
3
Fanshawe College
34.4
Rank
Medium
%
1
Fleming College
306.4
2
Cégep de Saint-Jérôme
232.6
3
Cambrian College
157.4
Rank
Small
%
1
Cégep de Rimouski
488.1
2
Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles
286.7
3
Cégep de Lévis
164.5
Notes:
College size tiers are based on a rolling average of the past five years of total college income:
Large = $250 million or more; Medium = $75 million to less than $250 million; Small = less than $75 million.
* Research partnerships and completed research projects with external organizations governed by formal written agreements.
** Students that were involved in applied research projects that were paid for their work. + Includes research income reported from industry sources in the form of a grant or contract.
