University of Arizona
GROWTH

The University of Arizona is on a trajectory for new successes that serve our state, the nation and the world.

Research activity at the UA topped $622.2 million in total research and development expenditures for fiscal year 2017, surpassing the previous year’s total by more than $18 million. The increase in research and development (R&D) activity adds to the UA’s upward trajectory, in large part because of the university’s collaborative culture and innovative approaches. Our growth is directly tied to innovative, cutting-edge research taking place every day on campus by our researchers. The success of our enterprise relies on the talent of UA researchers and their innovative ideas, hard work and productivity that drives us forward.

IN FY 2017, UA ACHIEVED:

  • $622.2 million in total research expenditures, an $18 million increase over fiscal year 2016
  • A total of 1,351 UA researchers were principal investigators or co-principal investigators on an R&D award.
  • The number of R&D awards increased by 427, rising from 2,354 in 2014 to 2,781 in 2017.
  • The number of new large-scale awards — those exceeding $2 million — increased more than 45 percent between 2014 and 2017.
  • Medical school research expenditures rose to $217 million from $193 million in fiscal year 2016.
  • Life science R&D activity at the UA totaled $348.5 million in 2017 — $71 million more than in 2014. New R&D award totals from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grew to $189 million — an increase of more than 45 percent from the year before and nearly triple what it was in 2014.
  • $1.8 billion in proposal submissions

UA is among the nation’s top research institutions, as demonstrated by the most recent National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development survey, including:

  • 23rd for total research expenditures among all public institutions in the United States, ahead of the University of Georgia, Florida State University and University of Maryland
  • 6th in physical sciences among all universities, ahead of Stanford, Cornell and Northwestern
  • 8th in NASA funding among all universities, ahead of Alabama and UCLA