The University of Ottawa was among the major contributors to the OCRI Report 2005, released in February 2006 by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI).
The first edition of this annual report contains the latest economic, technology and educational benchmark data for Ottawa and tracks emerging trends in 28 different areas.
“The report provides a broad economic view of how Ottawa is doing and what issues need to be addressed for the future,” said Jeffrey Dale, OCRI’s president and CEO.
Ottawa’s universities, colleges and school boards and the City of Ottawa were major contributors to the study, which also includes information from Statistics Canada and the Conference Board of Canada.
The report was developed as a quick-reference tool for business, community and government leaders in their decision making, as well as for potential investors who are looking at relocating or expanding in Ottawa.
“The indicators graphically illustrate the competitive strengths of the Ottawa region,” added Deborah Weinstein, chair of OCRI’s board.
Among its key findings, the report shows that Ottawa has had its lowest unemployment in four years, with the economy forecast by the Conference Board to grow by an above-par 2.9 per cent this year. Ottawa continues to be a leading research and innovation centre with an increased flow of corporate sponsored income (48 per cent) into the region’s universities in 2002-04. Additionally, local Ottawa corporations spent over $3 billion in research and development.
