UC tops $615M in research spending

Likewise, UC’s research awards increased by more than $46 million to $268 million during the same period, UC's Office of Research announced Wednesday.

According to the National Science Foundation, UC is 51st in the nation in research spending, topping institutions such as Princeton University, the University of Kentucky and the University of Georgia. UC ranks 33rd among public universities nationwide.

The NSF’s fiscal year 2022 rankings reflecting UC’s latest numbers will come out in December 2023.

“UC is a world-class research institution,” Vice President for Research Patrick Limbach said. “Without this support, we couldn’t do all the very important research and scholarly activities happening in every corner of UC.”

UC spent more than $308 million on research and development, according to UC’s Office of Research. UC’s affiliates, comprising Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati Research Institute, spent another $307 million for a total of $615 million.

Besides its new record for research spending, UC also continued its streak last year for both record-breaking enrollment and graduation. Limbach said many students apply to UC for the opportunity to work alongside some of the nation’s top scholars and researchers.

“With the increase in research funding at UC, we are able to support more undergraduate and graduate students to pursue what’s next,” Limbach said.

UC last year opened its new Digital Futures Building in the Cincinnati Innovation District, creating new spaces for research collaborations across colleges.

UC is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission. Collectively, Ohio ranks seventh in the nation in research and development spending by public higher education institutions, the NSF says.

“UC’s colleges are doing a great job of recruiting very successful, creative and competitive scholars and researchers,” Limbach said. “A robust increase in research funding by many of our colleges demonstrates their ability to recruit faculty at the highest level who are competing nationally and internationally for research funding.”

Universities serve as economic engines for their communities, according to the Association of American Universities. Besides providing employment, they develop innovative technologies that spark new business startups and raise tax revenue.

UC generates $4.2 billion annually for the regional economy through operations, construction projects, startups and spending by students, visitors and alumni, according to a 2018 analysis by Economic Modeling Specialists International.

Featured image at top: A UC aerospace engineering student uses laser light to study the vortices created by propellers in assistant professor Daniel Cuppoletti's lab. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand