Prince George, B.C. – Research funding at the University of Northern British Columbia remains at near-record levels. UNBC earned $17.7 million in research income in fiscal year 2023 according to the latest edition of Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities produced by Research Infosource Inc.

The funding income matches earnings for 2022 and marks the second-largest total in UNBC history, just shy of the $17.8 million earned in 2010. 

“The continued success of UNBC researchers in securing funding in a highly competitive environment speaks to the innovation and relevance of the projects being undertaken here in northern British Columbia,” says UNBC President Dr. Geoff Payne. “From a $5 million initiative studying salmon resiliency to a $1.5 million grant exploring the impact of herbicides on forest ecosystems, UNBC researchers are addressing pressing global challenges with solutions rooted in local expertise. This is a testament to UNBC’s commitment to fostering impactful, world-class research.”

UNBC’s research income earnings for 2023 see the University ranked in 10^th spot in the undergraduate tier, up one spot from last year, and listed at 41 overall. Corporate research income accounted for 6.2 per cent of the overall amount, while not-for-profit research income made up 4.5 per cent of the total.

“From partnerships with community organizations and local businesses to industry leaders and academic colleagues worldwide, UNBC researchers collaborate to continually enhance our knowledge generation ecosystem,” says UNBC Vice-President, Innovation and Research Dr. Paula Wood-Adams. “Their research is advancing scientific knowledge and inspiring the next generation of scientists, scholars and thought leaders by cultivating curiosity and a sense of inquiry that their students will take out into the world.”

UNBC researchers are engaged in a wide range of disciplines and highlights from the last year are plentiful:

• Funding of $5 million from the B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund to study salmon resiliency and infrastructure improvements at UNBC’s Quesnel River Research Centre.
• The first-ever awarding of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance Society grant to UNBC for a five-year, multi-partner research initiative examining the impact of glyphosate-based herbicides on forest ecosystems.
• More than $2 million in NSERC Discovery grant awards to UNBC researchers.
• More than $300,000 awarded from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grant program.

More on UNBC’s research stories can be found on the UNBC Office of Research and Innovation website.