University research is a vital building block of the nation's research and development (R&D) enterprise. While U.S. universities perform just 13 percent of total national R&D, they perform 31 percent of the nation's total research--basic and applied--and 56 percent of the nation's basic research. Because there is broad consensus that university research is a long-term national investment in the future, the federal government supports about 60 percent of the research performed at universities. In 2009, that amounted to the federal government supporting about $33 billion of universities' total annual R&D spending of $55 billion. Along with creating new knowledge and the foundation for new products and processes, U.S. universities use their research activities to educate students who will become the next generation's scientists and engineers, teachers, and leaders in government and industry. The following topics are addressed herein: how university research projects receive federal funding, the funding process and peer review, how the federal government manages research accountability, what costs of research the federal government covers, how the federal government determines F&A cost reimbursement, how cost reimbursement is restricted as administrative compliance requirements increase, and the process for using results of university research. A list of information sources is included.
- Authorizing Institution
- Association of American Universities
- Education Level
- Higher Education
- Location
- United States
- Peer Reviewed
- F
- Publication Type
- Reports - Descriptive
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- How Do University Research Projects Receive Federal Funding 1
- Principal Investigator PI. 1
- Research Assistants RA 1
- Grants. Cooperative Agreements. Contracts. 2
- How Does the Federal Government Manage Research Accountability 2
- What Costs of Research Does the Federal Government Cover 2
- Direct Costs Facilities and Administrative FA Costs 2
- How Does the Federal Government Determine FA Cost Reimbursement 2
- The FA Cost Rate . 2
- Cost Reimbursement Restricted as Administrative and Compliance Requirements Increased 3
- What Is the Process for Using Results of University Research 3
- Technology Transfer 3
- --Association of American Universities January 2011 3