Research expenditures at Colorado State University increased by nearly 5 percent in Fiscal Year 2016. The $332 million total is up from $317.2 million over the previous year. Research expenditures include money from federal, private, state and local organizations.

This marks the ninth consecutive year research expenditures at the university have topped $300 million. During the same period, federal expenditures on research and development continued to decline nationwide.

Alan Rudolph, CSU’s vice president for research, said the numbers underscore the importance of research at the university and CSU’s increasing prominence in the research realm.

“Research is a core part of our mission,” he said. “CSU stands in an elite group of top-tier universities that are addressing the unmet challenges of our day. This includes infectious diseases like Zika virus, translational efforts in cancer, and food and energy security, through research conducted by our faculty and students.”

Federal funding of research at CSU increased by 5.8 percent, to $232.1 million. Expenditures supported by the National Science Foundation, which falls under federal funding, totaled $32.9 million in FY 2016, up from $31.7 million in 2015.

State and local research expenditures, which falls under non-federal funding, increased to $17.7 million, compared with $16.8 million in 2015.

Tech transfer continues to thrive

At the same time that research expenditures have increased, CSU Ventures, the university’s technology transfer arm, also continued to see strong results. In many cases, research from labs and other settings across campus contributed to this technology transfer.

The Ventures team negotiated a record 46 agreements with companies to license CSU technologies and licensing revenue for FY 16 totaled $2.4 million. In addition, researchers filed 105 invention disclosures, were issued 37 patents, and launched five new startup companies.

“We’re licensing technology nationally and within Colorado, and having a positive impact on people’s lives,” said Todd Headley, president of CSU Ventures.

Further demonstrating the university’s leadership in research and innovation, CSU is a finalist for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Innovation and Economic Prosperity award. Learn more about the nomination and APLU’s recognition of CSU.

In November, APLU will present awards in three categories – Place, Talent and Innovation. CSU is a finalist for the Place award, which recognizes exemplary focus on social, cultural or community development leading to innovation and economic prosperity.