Canadian Research and Development Classification (CRDC) 2020 Version 1.0 - Field of Research (FOR)

RDF10 - Natural sciences

This division comprises research and experimental development in natural sciences. Natural sciences refer to scientific disciplines concerned with understanding, exploring or developing the natural world, in the field of natural sciences, which includes mathematics and statistics; computer and information sciences; physical sciences; chemical sciences; earth and related environmental sciences; biological sciences; and other natural sciences. Research consists of systematic investigation carried by means of experiment or analysis to achieve a scientific or technological advance such as acquiring new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts. Experimental development consists of new or substantially improved goods, services, systems, methods or processes.

RDF20-21 - Engineering and technology

This division comprises research and experimental development in engineering and technology. Engineering and technology refer to scientific disciplines concerned with understanding, exploring or developing the natural world, in the fields of engineering and technology, which include civil engineering; maritime engineering; transport engineering; mining engineering; industrial, systems and processes engineering; electrical engineering, computing engineering, and information engineering; mechanical engineering; chemical engineering; materials engineering and resources engineering; medical and biomedical engineering; environmental and related engineering; environmental biotechnology; industrial biotechnology; nanotechnology; and other engineering and technologies. Research consists of systematic investigation carried by means of experiment or analysis to achieve a scientific or technological advance such as acquiring new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts. Experimental development consists of new or substantially improved goods, services, systems, methods or processes.

• Exclusion(s)

  • food engineering (See RDF4040208 Food engineering)
  • forest engineering (See RDF4010413 Forest engineering)
  • medical biotechnology (See RDF30401 Medical biotechnology)

RDF30 - Medical, health and life sciences

This division comprises research and experimental development in medical, health and life sciences. Medical, health and life sciences refer to scientific disciplines concerned with understanding, exploring or developing the natural world, in the fields of medical, health and life sciences, which include basic medicine and life sciences; clinical medicine and other clinical sciences; health sciences; medical biotechnology; and other medical sciences. Research consists of systematic investigation carried by means of experiment or analysis to achieve a scientific or technological advance such as acquiring new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts. Experimental development consists of new or substantially improved goods, services, systems, methods or processes.

RDF40 - Agricultural and veterinary sciences

This division comprises research and experimental development in agricultural and veterinary sciences. Agricultural and veterinary sciences refer to scientific disciplines concerned with understanding, exploring or developing the natural world, in the fields of agricultural and veterinary sciences, which include agriculture, forestry and fisheries; animal and dairy sciences; veterinary sciences; agricultural and food biotechnology; and other agricultural sciences. Research consists of systematic investigation carried by means of experiment or analysis to achieve a scientific or technological advance such as acquiring new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts. Experimental development consists of new or substantially improved goods, services, systems, methods or processes.

RDF50 - Social sciences

This division comprises research and experimental development in social sciences. Social sciences refer to disciplines concerned with the study of human actions and conditions and the social, economic and institutional mechanisms affecting humans, in the fields of social sciences, which include psychology and cognitive sciences; economics and business administration; education; sociology and related studies; law and legal practices; political sciences and policy administration; social and economic geography; media and communications; and other social sciences. Research consists of systematic investigation carried by means of experiment or analysis to achieve a scientific or technological advance such as acquiring new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts. Experimental development consists of new or substantially improved goods, services, systems, methods or processes.

RDF60 - Humanities and the arts

This division comprises research and experimental development in humanities and the arts. Humanities and the arts refer to disciplines concerned with the study of human actions and conditions and the social, economic and institutional mechanisms affecting humans, in the fields of humanities and the arts, which include history, archaelogy and related studies; languages and literature; philosophy (including ethics and religion); arts (including arts and history of arts, performing arts and music), architecture and design; and other humanities. Research consists of systematic investigation carried by means of experiment or analysis to achieve a scientific or technological advance such as acquiring new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts. Experimental development consists of new or substantially improved goods, services, systems, methods or processes.