ICT:
The information technology industry dominated the top 100 in R&D spending. Notably Nortel Networks spent nearly Cdn$2.25 billion worldwide, around 60% of which was in Canada.

Life Sciences:
Next in total spending was the life science (pharmaceuticals/biotechnology) sector, which accounted for 16% of Top 100 R&D spending. When its worldwide spending is taken into account Canadian manufacturer Apotex led the firms in this industry in total R&D spending (Cdn$183 million). However, domestic spending in the sector is dominated by multinational pharmaceutical companies, for which only the in-Canada R&D data was presented. Here, Pfizer Canada is the clear leader with nearly Cdn$179 million in domestic research spending.

Aerospace:
5 Aerospace companies accounted for 8% of total spending in the top 100 R&D list, led by Pratt & Whitney Canada, with Cdn$472 million of R&D.

Automotive:
As companies such as GM, Ford, Daimler-Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda have not revealed their domestic R&D spending data, they are absent from the Top 100 list. However, one company, Magna International, stands out. Magna spent almost Cdn$824 million on R&D in 2005.

Other Industries:
Other top spenders with over fifty million or more in R&D include Alcan Inc.* in the mining and metals industry which spent Cdn$275 million; Hydro-Québec in the electrical power and utilities which spent Cdn$96 million; Tembec Inc. in the forest and paper products sector which spent Cdn$94.4 million: and NOVA Chemicals Corporation* in the chemicals and materials sector which spent Cdn$60.6 million on R&D in the fiscal year of 2005.

The following are examples of some of the top R&D companies which spent approximately Cdn$50 million dollars or more in R&D in the 2005 fiscal year.