U-M annual research spending grows 8.5 percent to $1.24 billion

Sept. 20, 2011

U-M annual research spending grows 8.5 percent to $1.24 billion

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Research spending at the University of Michigan in 2010-11 grew 8.5 percent over the previous year to $1.24 billion, continuing the long-term trend of steady growth in the university’s research enterprise.

"University research is a key driver of innovation in the U.S.," said Stephen R. Forrest, vice president for research. "This continued growth in funding shows the commitment of the federal government, industry, and other sponsors to investing in the future."

Federal research spending at U-M rose 9.8 percent over the previous fiscal year, accounting for 66.7 percent of total research expenditures.

Funding from the National Institutes of Health, the largest federal sponsor of U-M research, increased 12.6 percent. National Science Foundation research spending at U-M was up by 10.3 over last year. And although Department of Defense research expenditures dropped by 4.9 percent, Department of Energy research funding rose by 30.4 percent.

Research expenditures from industry grants and contracts rose by 4 percent to $40.8 million, recovering in part from a 9.3 percent drop the previous year.

One of the year’s largest awards was $12.5 million from the Department of Energy for the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center—Clean Vehicle Consortium (CERC-CVC), a partnership led by U-M to advance clean vehicle energy technologies in the United States and China. The funding will be matched by consortium members to provide at least $25 million in total funding over the next five years.