Florida Universities Get $81 Million for Research

State University Chancellor Frank T. Brogan announced that the 11 institutions of the State University System of Florida will receive 31 percent more for research activities in the latest federal budget. The 2010 budget provides $81 million to Florida’s public universities.

“We are pleased with the recognition Congress has given the State University System and its research capability,” Brogan said. “A 31-percent increase is huge – it will allow our institutions to expand their work to find solutions to problems facing our state and nation.”

Brogan added that the $19-million increase could not come at a better time for the Florida economy.  “The State University System is an economic engine for Florida,” Brogan said. “Every outside dollar our universities bring in results in greater economic activity, greater economic health.”

Brogan noted that the $82 million for research in the 2010 federal budget is in addition to the more than $1.2 billion in outside, non-state support State University System researchers are expected to bring in through competition for grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, other federal agencies, private industry and other private sources.

“Ever year, our public universities attract well over a billion dollars in outside funding,” Brogan said.  “If we continue this trend, we could have outside research grants that, in total, approach the level of funding provided by the taxpayers of Florida. I think that says a lot about the economic role our universities play. Bringing in $1.2 billion in outside research support, while at the same time providing an education to more that 300,000 students – we are very proud of that record and of our contribution to the transformation of Florida’s economy into a knowledge-based power.”