Canadian Research and Development Classification (CRDC) 2020 Version 1.0 - Socioeconomic Objective (SEO)

RDS101 - Exploration and exploitation of the earth

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to the exploration of the Earth's crust and mantle, seas, oceans and atmosphere, as well as for R&D activities on their exploitation. It also includes climatic and meteorological research, polar exploration and hydrology. It does not include R&D activities related to soil improvement (objective 4 or RDS104), land use or fishing (objective 8 or RDS108), or pollution (objective 2 or RDS102).

• Exclusion(s)

  • conservation of energy and efficient energy use (See RDS10506 Energy conservation and efficiency)
  • control and treatment of human diseases within the country's borders (See RDS107 Health)
  • environmental ethics (See RDS11007 Heritage (including Indigenous culture))
  • farming and production aspects of animals and primary animal product (See RDS108 Agriculture (including fisheries and forestry))
  • production aspects of agricultural crops, plants and primary plant products (See RDS108 Agriculture (including fisheries and forestry))
  • rural, regional and urban construction planning issues, including environmental impact studies of new developments (See RDS10401 Construction planning)

RDS102 - Environmental protection

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to improving the control of pollution, including the identification and analysis of the sources of pollution and their causes, and all pollutants, including their dispersal in the environment and the effects on humans, species (fauna, flora, micro-organisms) and the biosphere. The development of monitoring facilities for the measurement of all kinds of pollution is included, as are R&D activities for the elimination and prevention of all forms of pollution in all types of environment.

• Exclusion(s)

  • conservation of energy and efficient energy use (See RDS10506 Energy conservation and efficiency)
  • control and treatment of human diseases within the country's borders (See RDS107 Health)
  • environmental ethics (See RDS11007 Heritage (including Indigenous culture))
  • rural, regional and urban construction planning issues, including environmental impact studies of new developments (See RDS10401 Construction planning)
  • the interaction of oceanic processes and climate (See RDS10104 Climate and climate change)

RDS103 - Exploration and exploitation of space

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers all civil space research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to the R&D in exploration of space, space laboratories, space travel and launch systems. Although civil space R&D activities are not always concerned with particular objectives, they frequently have a specific goal, such as the advancement of knowledge (e.g. astronomy) or relate to particular applications (e.g. telecommunications satellites or earth observation). This objective does not include corresponding R&D activities for defence purposes.

• Exclusion(s)

  • scientific activities related to exploration and exploitation of space for defence purposes (See RDS112 Defence)

RDS104 - Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures (including buildings)

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to infrastructure, including e-infrastructures, land development, and the construction of buildings. More generally, this objective covers all R&D activities relating to the general planning of land use. This objective includes R&D activities into protection against harmful effects in town and country planning but not the research into other types of pollution (objective 2 or RDS102). This objective also includes R&D activities related to transport systems; telecommunication systems; network systems and services, including network security; mobile technologies; general planning of land use; the construction and planning of buildings; civil engineering; and water supply.

• Exclusion(s)

  • conservation of energy and improving energy efficiency in transport (See RDS10506 Energy conservation and efficiency)
  • conservation of historic buildings and structures and heritage aspects of urban and regional planning (See RDS11007 Heritage (including Indigenous culture))
  • construction-related environmental health issues (See RDS10703 Public health (except specific population health))
  • energy conservation and efficiency in construction activities (See RDS10506 Energy conservation and efficiency)
  • manufacturing of materials used in construction (See RDS10601 Industrial processes related to mineral resource)
  • manufacturing of transport equipment (See RDS10607 Transport equipment)
  • pipeline distribution of water and waste handling services provided by local councils and governments or private and non-profit waste management businesses (See RDS10202 Water provision and waste services)
  • pipeline transportation of energy products (See RDS10505 Energy storage and distribution)
  • prefabricated buildings manufacturing (See RDS10699 Industrial production and technology, n.e.c.)
  • property services (e.g. property developers, real estate agents, alarm and surveillance services) (See RDS11103 Management, marketing and productivity)
  • scientific activities related to research into pollution, except protection against harmful effects in town and country planning, and into environments affected by construction activities (See RDS102 Environmental protection)
  • transportation of forest products (See RDS10801 Forestry)
  • water distribution and waste handling services provided by local councils and governments or private and non-profit waste management businesses (See RDS10202 Water provision and waste services)

RDS105 - Energy (except prospecting)

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to improve the production, storage, transportation, distribution and rational use of all forms of energy. This objective also includes R&D activities on processes designed to increase the efficiency of energy production and distribution, and the study of energy conservation. It does not include R&D activities related to prospecting (objective 1 or RDS101) or R&D activities into vehicle and engine propulsion (objective 6 or RDS106).

• Exclusion(s)

  • characteristics, propagation, growing and harvesting of crops for use as biomass or conversion to biofuels (See RDS10803 Crops)
  • design of buildings to minimise energy consumption in the finished building (See RDS10402 Construction design)
  • manufacturing of processed products from energy mineral resources (e.g. lubricants, plastics, synthetic resins and paints) (See RDS10605 Agricultural and industrial chemicals)
  • production or processing of non-energy mineral resources (See RDS10601 Industrial processes related to mineral resource)
  • scientific activities into vehicle and engine propulsion (See RDS106 Industrial production and technology)
  • scientific activities related research into pollution, except protection against harmful effects in town and country planning, and into environments affected by energy (including mining) activities (See RDS102 Environmental protection)
  • scientific activities related to prospecting energy (See RDS10102 Energy resources exploration)
  • water distribution and waste handling services provided by local councils and governments or private and non-profit waste management businesses (See RDS10202 Water provision and waste services)

RDS106 - Industrial production and technology

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to improve the industrial production, technology and industrial services, including R&D activities on industrial products and their manufacturing processes, except where they form an integral part of the pursuit of other objectives, e.g., defence (Objective 12 or RDS112), space (Objective 3 or RDS103), energy (Objective 5 or RDS105) or agriculture (Objective 8 or RDS108). This division also includes computer systems and security, information systems, human-computer interactions, artificial intelligence systems, and machine learning.

• Exclusion(s)

  • scientific activities on industrial products and their manufacturing processes as an integral part of the pursuit of agriculture objectives (See RDS108 Agriculture (including fisheries and forestry))
  • scientific activities on industrial products and their manufacturing processes as an integral part of the pursuit of defence objectives (See RDS112 Defence)
  • scientific activities on industrial products and their manufacturing processes as an integral part of the pursuit of energy objectives (except exploration) (See RDS105 Energy (except prospecting))
  • scientific activities on industrial products and their manufacturing processes as an integral part of the pursuit of space objectives (See RDS103 Exploration and exploitation of space)

RDS107 - Health

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to protect, promote and restore human health. It ranges from biomedical and clinical research to research focused on health services and population and public health, including all aspects of medical and surgical treatment, the provision of hospital and home care, and public health, mental health, prevention and wellness.

• Exclusion(s)

  • community services not directly impacting health (See RDS11109 Family and social work)
  • quarantine and control measures to prevent the entry of diseases into a country (See RDS10204 Control of pests, diseases and exotic species)
  • workplace safety (See RDS11107 Work and labour market issues)

RDS108 - Agriculture (including fisheries and forestry)

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers all research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to promote agriculture, forestry, fisheries and foodstuff production, or further knowledge on chemical fertilisers, biocides, biological pest control and the mechanisation of agriculture, as well as concerning the impact of agricultural and forestry activities on the environment. This objective also covers R&D activities aimed at improving food productivity and technology. It does not include R&D activities on the reduction of pollution (objective 2 or RDS102); on the development of rural areas; on the construction and planning of buildings; on the improvement of rural rest and recreation amenities and agricultural water supply (objective 4 or RDS104); on energy efficiency measures (objective 5 or RDS105); or on the food processing industry (objective 6 or RDS106).

• Exclusion(s)

  • manufacturing of processed animal products, including fish, and their primary products (See RDS10602 Industrial processes related to agricultural products (except wood, paper and fiber))
  • operation of irrigation systems and the provision of waste handling services provided by local councils and governments or private and non-profit waste management enterprises (See RDS10202 Water provision and waste services)
  • scientific activities directed towards energy efficiency measures (See RDS10506 Energy conservation and efficiency)
  • scientific activities directed towards the development of rural areas, on the construction and planning of buildings, on the improvement of rural rest and recreation amenities and agricultural water supply (See RDS104 Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures (including buildings))
  • scientific activities directed towards the food industry (See RDS10602 Industrial processes related to agricultural products (except wood, paper and fiber))
  • scientific activities directed towards research into pollution, except protection against harmful effects in town and country planning, and into environments affected by agricultural, fisheries and forestry activities (See RDS102 Environmental protection)

RDS109 - Education

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives related to supporting general or special education, including training, pedagogy, didactics, and targeted methods for specially gifted persons or those with learning disabilities. This objective applies to all levels of education, from pre- and primary school through to tertiary education, as well as to subsidiary services to education.

• Exclusion(s)

  • ethical issues such as business ethics, social ethics, environmental ethics (See RDS11008 Ethics)
  • public health education (See RDS10703 Public health (except specific population health))

RDS110 - Culture, recreation, religion and media

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives to improve the understanding of social phenomena related to cultural activities, religion and leisure activities so as to define their impact on life in society, as well as to racial and cultural integration and on socio-cultural changes in these areas. The concept of "culture" covers the sociology of science, religion, art, sport and leisure, and also comprises inter alia R&D activities on the media, the mastery of language and social integration, libraries, archives and external cultural policy. This objective also includes R&D activities related to: recreational and sporting services; cultural services; broadcasting or online streaming and publishing services; and religious and other community services.

RDS111 - Political and social systems, structures and processes

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental development (R&D) activities with objectives to improve the understanding of and support the political structure of society; public administration issues and economic policy; regional studies and multi-level governance; social change, social processes and social conflicts; the development of social security and social assistance systems; and the social aspects of the organisation of work. This objective also includes de R&D activities related to gender-related social studies, including discrimination and familiar problems; the development of methods of combating poverty at local, national and international levels; the protection of specific population categories on the social level (immigrants, delinquents, "drop outs", etc.), on the sociological level, i.e. with regard to their way of life (young people, adults, retired people, disabled people, etc.) and on the economic level (consumers, farmers, fishermen, miners, the unemployed, etc.); and methods of providing social assistance when sudden changes (natural, technological or social) occur in society. This objective does not include R&D activities related to industrial health, the health control of communities from the organisational and socio-medical point of view, pollution at the place of work, the prevention of industrial accidents and the medical aspects of the causes of industrial accidents (objective 7 or RDS107).

RDS112 - Defence

This division is a socioeconomic objective which covers research and experimental (R&D) activities with objectives to serve military purposes. This objective may also include basic research in nuclear and space activities when financed by the ministry of defence, including advancement of knowledge in these areas. Civil research and experimental development financed by the ministry of defence, for example in the fields of meteorology, telecommunications and health, should be classified in the relevant objectives.

• Exclusion(s)

  • development and provision of measurement standards and calibration services for defence related products and processes (See RDS10611 Measurement standards and calibration services)
  • improvement of methods of producing or processing military or defence-related equipment and materials (See RDS106 Industrial production and technology)