MD's 2 Top Public Universities Surpass $1 Billion in Combined Research Funding

UM, College Park Soars to Record $518 Million in Research Funding, UM, Baltimore Hits $517 Million

COLLEGE PARK, Md -- For the first time, the combined sponsored research funding for the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore have topped $1 billion in combined research funding. The Flagship College Park campus reported $518 million for Fiscal Year 2009 while the Baltimore campus reported $517 million for FY '09.

The University of Maryland, College Park's research total of $518 million is the most ever for a Maryland public university and represents a $117 million (nearly 30 percent) increase from the previous year's $401 million. With the $67 million increase in FY '09 research funding for the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the two institutions brought in $184 million in additional research funding in FY '09.

University and state officials say these unprecedented jumps in research funding represent a significant economic boost for the state and region at a time of declining income and worsening budget shortages.

"Our milestone in research funding is a reflection of the University of Maryland, College Park's accomplishments and reputation in critical areas such as climate change, national security and food safety," said President C. D. Mote, Jr. "The faculty's unwavering commitment to achievement in research and to the engagement of students in research is critical to the mission of the university. Even in these difficult economic times, our extraordinary research programs serve the state of Maryland and the nation remarkably well indeed."

"This kind of research funding success represents a genuine return on investment for the state," said Mel Bernstein, vice president for research at the University of Maryland, College Park. "The annual and capital support from the state gives us the ability to conduct important research. The university adds high value to the state and is an essential part of its knowledge and technology-based economy.

"Achieving this level of research funding, particularly in these challenging economic times, speaks to the unparalleled brainpower we have here in Maryland," said Christian S. Johansson, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. "Maryland continues to rank among the nation's top states for attracting research and development dollars, and this great news can only help Maryland continue to flourish, both scientifically and economically."

According to U.S. Department of Commerce, every $1 million in R&D spending generates 36 jobs, thus the $184 million in combined new research funding brought in by the two universities in FY '09 will directly generate some 6,600 new jobs. A 2008 report from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities notes that "state colleges and universities are well positioned to contribute to a progressive state economic development strategy."

A study by the Sage Policy Group shows the annual economic impact to the state of the University of Maryland, College Park is over $3.4 billion, with over 23,000 jobs supported. The report, which was commissioned by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., shows that the university returns more than $8 to the state for every $1 the state invests in it. Each year the University of Maryland, College Park graduates the state's largest number of scientific, business, life science, engineering and technology students and figures show that every graduating UMCP class represents $500 million in increased lifetime earnings.

UM Research Answering National Needs

"We are increasingly aligning the university's research capabilities to national needs and goals, taking an active part in how the nation's research agenda is laid out, and building partnerships with the neighboring federal agencies that fund and lead much of this critical research," said, vice president for research Bernstein. "Our FY '09 research funding total reflects these efforts."

Bernstein and other officials in the university's division of research say they are confident that Maryland's crossing of the half-billion dollar mark in annual research income places the school firmly in the top ten of all universities nationwide without a medical school. They note that 2007 national figures for university R&D from the National Science Foundation (NSF figures lag some two years behind) the University of Maryland, College Park was already at number 11 in research funding among research universities without medical schools.

"Bringing in more than a half billion dollars in research funding shows real progress toward the university's strategic goals can proceed even during tough economic times," said Ken Gertz, associate vice president for research development. "We're continuing to make a great university even greater, advancing our efforts to build one of the world's very best public research universities."

Recent Examples of University of Maryland Externally Funded Research

UMd-led Consortium Wins $93 Million NOAA Climate Institute
Deep Impact and Other Spacecraft Find Clear
Evidence of Water on Moon
UM Awarded $2 Million for Brain Imaging Center
Climate Change Unfolds in Blossoms of Rocky Mountain Wildflowers
H1N1 Pandemic Virus Does Not Mutate
Into 'Superbug' in UMd. Lab Study
UM Part of $10 Million NSF Grant for
Computational Modeling and Analysis

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