Oregon public universities succeeding in tough climate

Oregon State University’s external research funding jumped nearly 11 percent to $231 million in 2007-08, continuing an upward trend.

During the last five years, annual contracts and grants for studies have skyrocketed by 48 percent, or $75 million.

“The federal funding climate is getting tougher and tougher, but our faculty has been absolutely incredible with what they’ve been able to accomplish,” said Rich Holdren, OSU associate vice president for research.

A sharper focus on grant writing, coordinated efforts between departments to pursue major programs and new hires with existing research projects contributed to the increase, Holdren said.

The state’s other public colleges also are attracting research dollars at a higher rate than the rest of the nation, said Charles Triplett, a planning analyst for the Oregon University System.

“The benefit is pretty obvious. We’re bringing in money from outside the state into Oregon.”

Triplett said that a National Science Foundation report on fiscal year 2006 showed that Oregon ranked:

• Fifth among states in the proportion of public research expenditures funded by the federal government.

• Seventh in federal research expenditures at public universities per full-time faculty.

• Ninth in federal research expenditures at public universities per capita.

Federal grants make up 83 percent of competitive external research funding at OSU, said John Cassady, university vice president of research.

The Oregon University System didn’t have data on how much research funding its other universities collected last fiscal year, but total sponsored research expenditures were at $318 million in 2006-2007. OSU accounted for 60 percent of that figure. OSU also has more external research funding than the rest of the system combined, state and university officials said.

Holdren said the National Science Foundation ranked OSU 87th in the country for academic research expenditures in 2006, and 60th for public institutions. It also was 24th for institutions without a medical school. In comparison, the University of Oregon was 157th overall, Holdren said.

For Beaver Nation, researchers in the College of Science had the most growth last year, with contracts and grants up 37 percent to $20.7 million.

“Oregon State University scientists are not only highly competitive with their peers nationally in earning research funding, but are recognized for the quality of their studies by scientists who cite OSU research in conducting their own work,” said OSU President Ed Ray, in a news release.

The College of Engineering also surged 30 percent to $22.9 million.

Besides studies, the money funds new equipment, such as a $1.13 million “wavemaker” for the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Laboratory.

OSU inventions earned nearly $2.6 million in licensing income, up from $2.5 million the previous year. “Technology transfer” income has grown 73 percent during the past five years. OSU also reported 70 invention disclosures, almost double the 37 from 2003-04.

The university earns licensing revenue from products such as patented varieties of wheat and new solar energy cells.

Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.

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