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NC State Sets Sponsored Research Record

NC State University surpassed $300 million in sponsored research funding for the first time during the 2013-14 fiscal year, spurred by success capturing federal awards along with record-setting funding from industry partners.

NC State ended the fiscal year with a total of $304.5 million in sponsored awards, eclipsing the previous record of $286.4 million in the 2011-12 fiscal year.

Interestingly, the figure does not include funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for the national manufacturing innovation institute – a five-year, $140 million project – or the $25 million grant from the National Nuclear Security Administration to head the Consortium for Nonproliferation Enabling Capabilities. Funding for both of those projects, announced during the 2014 spring semester, commences in the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Federal awards totaled $233.8 million, just a bit below the all-time record of $236.1 million in 2011-12, and industry awards totaled $35.8 million, exceeding the previous high of $25.6 million set last year.

Research proposals also reached a new high, exceeding $1.32 billion. The previous record for proposal submissions was $1.06 billion in the 2009-10 fiscal year – the peak of stimulus funding opportunities.

“NC State’s practical, solution-driven research continues to spur the economic, intellectual and societal prosperity of our state,” Chancellor Randy Woodson said. “Every day, the campus community proves that it is worthy of investment due to its spirit of innovation and its ability to work – frequently in partnership with government and industry – across academic disciplines to provide answers to the most pressing challenges of the day.”

Terri Lomax, vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development, added that, since 2007, new awards have increased 58 percent, with federal awards increasing 71 percent and industry awards more than doubling from $17.2 million to $35.8 million.

“This is all the more impressive in times of flat or decreasing federal funding and is a great testament to the efforts and skill of our faculty, staff and research support professionals,” she said.

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