Clemson ends fiscal 2010 with highest research funding ever

CLEMSON, SC – October 20, 2010 – Clemson University Vice President for Research Gerald Sonnenfeld gave the board of trustees’ Research and Economic Development Committee good news at last Thursday’s meeting. Total research funding for fiscal 2010, which ended June 30, was the highest in the University’s history: $187,292,161.

That figure includes more than $94 million in sponsored programs, while a $43-million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for a wind-turbine drive-train test facility at the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston accounted for approximately one-third of this year’s funding.

The federal government provided the majority of external research funding, 86 percent, while state and local government accounted for 8 percent and industry and other sources provided 6 percent.

As was the case in 2009, more than half of Clemson’s research funding was focused in two emphasis areas: sustainable environment (37 percent) and advanced materials (24 percent). The College of Engineering and Science continued to have the highest level of extramural support, with 39 percent.

The university had an exceptional year, even without the ARRA funding, Sonnenfeld told the trustees. If we remove that, we still increased the total funding to $144,126,659 compared to last year’s total of $141,969,422.

In these economic times, it is important to note that Clemson researchers continue to aggressively seek external support for a rigorous research program, he said. Our academic reputation is largely dependent on the outcomes of faculty research and publications, and the growth in our research program will generate a lot of positive attention for Clemson.