Canadian universities are still struggling to commercialize their research, new data shows
Canadian universities and research institutions saw research spending rise nearly 6% to $8.4 billion in 2025, while patent applications and research-based startups also increased. However, licensing income fell about 4% to $143.7 million, active licences declined 8% and university-linked startups shutting down rose 65%. This highlights challenges in turning research into commercial success, experts say. Canada needs to better connect universities with companies that can commercialize discoveries, they say.
