This figure displays the time series for actual (2010 – 2019) and intended 2020 spending for the federal government’s support for the higher education sector’s natural sciences and engineering R&D.
It confirms, along with announcements that the federal government increased funding for science and technology and R&D expenditures during the pandemic, that available research funding for the sector was less affected than that of the private sector.
For example, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s 2020/2021 budget increased by $10 million during the 2021/2021 fiscal year. However, as we see from other metrics, it would seem that COVID-19 likely disrupted the researchers’ planned and future projects in data science and AI related areas in spite of the funding being more stable than that in the private sector.
Statistics Canada. Table 27-10-0273-01 Gross domestic expenditures on research and development, by science type and by funder and performer sector (x 1,000,000)
