Survey on Research Activities and Commercialization of Intellectual Property in Higher Education (SRACIPHE)

Detailed information for 2025

The Survey on Research Activities and Commercialization of Intellectual Property in Higher Education collects information on research activities, intellectual property (IP) management, commercialization, partnerships, and related innovation activities undertaken by Canadian postsecondary institutions and affiliated organizations.

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The Survey on Research Activities and Commercialization of Intellectual Property in Higher Education is a national survey of Canadian higher education institutions and affiliated organizations engaged in research and development (R&D), IP management, knowledge transfer and commercialization activities. The survey covers universities, colleges, polytechnics, CEGEPs, centres collégiaux de transfert de technologie et de pratiques sociales novatrices (CCTTs), technology transfer offices and affiliated institutions that conduct, support or manage research and innovation activities. The survey was developed to support the production of nationally consistent statistics on research, intellectual property, commercialization and innovation activities in the Canadian postsecondary sector.

The concepts and definitions used in the collection and dissemination of research and development data are aligned with the Frascati Manual 2015 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). For the purposes of this survey, R&D includes basic research, applied research and experimental development conducted in the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

The survey collects information on research partnerships and collaborations, R&D agreements, research infrastructure, IP management and support activities, invention disclosures, intellectual property ownership and protection, patenting, licensing activities, commercialization revenues, and barriers to commercialization. It also gathers information on institutional resources dedicated to intellectual property management.

The data will be used to produce official statistics that inform research and innovation policies and programs. Data users include federal, provincial and territorial governments and agencies, as well as academic and industry stakeholders, for statistical analyses and policy and program development.

Reference period: The 12-month fiscal period for which the fiscal year end occurs on or between April 1st of the reference year and March 31st of the following year.

Collection period: September through December

Subjects

• Innovation
• Research and development
• Science and technology

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The Survey on Research Activities and Commercialization of Intellectual Property in Higher Education includes colleges, polytechnics, CEGEPs, universities, centres collégiaux de transfert de technologie et de pratiques sociales novatrices and technology transfer organizations or units that carry out basic commercialization activities on behalf of postsecondary education.

Postsecondary institutions that exclusively offer theological degrees or that did not perform over $500,000 in research and development activities in the reference period are excluded.

Instrument design

The survey data are collected using a single electronic questionnaire.

The questionnaire was developed by Statistics Canada in collaboration with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and through consultations with representatives of universities, colleges, CEGEPs, centres collégiaux de transfert de technologie et de pratiques sociales novatrices and subject-matter experts. It builds on previous Canadian and international initiatives, including the former Survey of Intellectual Property Commercialization in the Higher Education Sector.

Survey questions, concepts, and response categories were tested with institutional respondents in both English and French to assess their understanding of the terminology, concepts and definitions, as well as their ability to provide the requested information.

Electronic questionnaires are the principal mode of collection.

Sampling

This survey is a census with a longitudinal design.

The survey is conducted as a census of all higher education institutions and affiliated institutions that carry out basic commercialization activities on behalf of postsecondary education institutions within the target population that perform at least $500,000 in research and development during the institution's fiscal year corresponding to the survey's reference period.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2026-09-29 to 2026-12-31

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

Institutions are initially contacted by telephone during a pre-contact phase to identify an appropriate contact within the institutions to respond to the survey.

Follow-up, because of non-response, inconsistent or missing data is done by phone on a priority basis.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .