R&D has been an ongoing focus for the province, and as a result Manitoba has gained an international profile in the areas of agriculture and health biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical and diagnostic devices and industrial research, among others. Manitoba’s favorable tax environment encourages innovation, with programs like the Manitoba Research and Development Tax Credit and the federal Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program helping to pave the way for Manitoba companies to pour more of their efforts into R&D. Some examples of R&D centres in Manitoba include:

• International Centre for Infectious Diseases 
• Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health 
• Shared Health Research and Innovation 
• St. Boniface Hospital Research
• Canadian International Grains Institute

The University of Manitoba’s SmartPark has also played a huge role in raising the province’s R&D profile. This 100-acre multi-tenant research and technology park allows Manitoba's knowledge-based industries to benefit from close university-industry interaction. Among those taking advantage of this unique initiative are organizations in the fields of information and communications technology, electrical engineering, robotics, agricultural technology, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, functional foods and nutraceuticals.