That's a very good question. I'm looking for the numbers on the metrics for EODP.
Ted, that's a great question, and how governments measure the successful outcomes of programs is something we struggle with every day. I can tell you at this initial stage of FedDev, we can count job numbers both as estimated by the applicant and then as the project concludes, when we always go back and have a look at how they have done with respect to their promised outcomes in the application.
In terms of innovation, job numbers are one thing, but creating a job doesn't necessarily mean, as you point out, that a company is more innovative or more globally competitive. Evaluating those requires a more long-term study, as you will well know.
FedDev is working to develop the metrics program. We're doing the same thing on the science and technology file, to develop the metrics that, first of all, relate overall or generally to what we're attempting to do, but also specifically with metrics for each individual program because their outcomes are slightly different.
In terms of becoming a more innovative nation or improving productivity, I read a report that I was quite excited about. It indicates that R and D spending by business is up, and I think the report said it was by 4% this year over the last four years. That's a good sign, but as you would agree, it is not an indicator of future trends. But we're not going to say no to the fact that business expenditure on research and development is up this year over the last four. But we are working on metrics.
On the eastern Ontario development program, since 2004 more than $65 million has been invested in more than 5,500 businesses and community development projects. More than 57,900 people have received work-related training. That's an ongoing advantage that's difficult to measure, but they have the training. What they do with it, as I'm saying, is difficult to measure.
More than 880 youth interns have been placed in not-for-profit and private sector organizations. That's a big step up for eastern Ontario, where we do see unique challenges with respect to the youth migration in some of these communities like Kingston.
An additional $307 million, on top of the $65 million provided by the federal government through EODP, has been leveraged by partners. So this is a good news story where the federal government has put up $65 million, and the private sector and communities—the Government of Ontario—have put up an additional $307 million.
There's a great example of a company, Ted, in your riding. I won't say the name of the company for privacy's sake, but it's owned by a lady engineer who graduated from Queen's, and you'll probably know the company right away. She had the opportunity to go anywhere, but again because of FedDev and some other federal assistance, she stayed in Kingston. She's producing a product that cannot be produced anywhere else and her company is exploding in size, in terms of hiring people from the area and expanding.