The University Record, November 19, 1996
Research expenditures totaled more than
$441 million in 1995-96
The University’s research expenditures increased by 7.8 percent in 1995–96, reaching another record total of $441,294,540.
“Increases in annual expenditures in support of research demonstrate the continued leadership of the University in the discovery of new knowledge and in the application of leading-edge technologies for the benefit of society.”
Neidhardt noted that the University’s total research expenditures have increased by 107.2 percent over the past decade, from $213 million in 1986–87 to $441 million in 1995–96. Real purchasing power of these expenditures (discounted for inflation) has also increased by 45.5 percent in constant (fiscal year 1987) dollars.
Of the 1995–96 total research expenditures, $283,722,667 came from federal agencies and $157,571,873 from non-federal sources.
Research support from federal agencies accounted for 64.3 percent of the total. Major funding agencies included the Department of Health and Human Services, $162,998,965; National Science Foundation, $38,088,324; Department of Defense, $30,663,299; NASA, $11,971,231; and the Department of Energy, $9,358,693.
Research support from non-federal sources accounted for 24.7 percent of the total and included $35,067,701 from industry and $32,842,024 from others, including voluntary contributions. U-M funds accounted for 11.1 percent of the University’s total research expenditures.
Neidhardt noted that, in the past 10 years, research expenditures from federal sources increased by 108.8 percent, from $135.9 million in 1986–87 to $283.7 million in 1995–96. “The modest 2.1 percent increase in research expenditures from federal sources in 1995–96 represents a slowing in the momentum of federal funding for research at the University.”
During the same period, he added, “research expenditures from non-federal sources have increased by 152.5 percent, recording a significant increase of 31.9 percent in the past fiscal year. These increases in expenditures from non-federal sources helped to offset the slower rate of increase in federal research funds.”
