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UNB’s research intensity and community partnerships reflected in strong rankings placement

Author: UNB Newsroom

Posted on Dec 11, 2020

Category: UNB Fredericton , UNB Saint John

Research Infosource has announced their Top 50 Canadian Research Universities rankings for the 2019 fiscal year.

Among comprehensive universities, the University of New Brunswick placed second in Canada for research income growth, showing an impressive 25.3 per cent gain over the previous year. This gain includes a 54 per cent increase, year-over-year, in private industry funding, propelling UNB to first place for this measure.

“Seeing this impressive, nation-leading growth in our last fiscal year as we launch our bold new strategic vision, UNB Toward 2030, should give us all confidence in our goals,” said UNB President Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle. “It reinforces our view that we can support our public and private partners with research expertise and that we change the world for the better through our work.”

UNB was also ranked fifth for research intensity, both when measured in funding dollars per faculty member and per graduate student. Among all Canadian universities, including the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, UNB has also maintained a stable position, moving up one spot over 2018 to 27th place.

“Our rank among Canadian research universities reflects our position as New Brunswick’s national comprehensive university, and its sponsored research leader,” said Dr. David MaGee, UNB vice-president (research). “It shows our continued drive toward increasing research excellence, impact and intensity, and our research community’s curiosity and commitment.”

The Research Infosource rankings further break down funding sources by sector, highlighting corporate and not-for-profit organization funding.

With $9.1 million in research conducted with funding from not-for-profit sources, UNB is fourth among Canadian comprehensive universities for total funding amount. Representing almost 19 per cent of its research revenue, this funding puts UNB in the lead nationally for the largest proportion of research funding from these sources in 2019.

In addition to taking first place in income growth from corporate sponsored research, UNB was second in the nation for corporate funding as a percentage of total research income, with a 12.5 per cent increase.

“These results demonstrate that our institution can develop research intensity while adapting to different funding scenarios, and signal further potential for growth, both through increased public funding success, and through increased private partnership research,” added Dr. MaGee.

Research Infosource Inc. is Canada's source of R&D intelligence. Drawing from proprietary databases, Research Infosource publishes Canada’s Innovation Leaders, which includes the annual Canada's Top 50 Research Universities rankings list.

Media contact: Jeremy Elder-Jubelin

Photo credit: Joy Cummings/UNB Media Services