Fed science, engineering funding up for first time in five years
Federal agencies increased overall science and engineering funding by 6% in fiscal 2014 over the prior year to $30.8 billion spread across 996 academic institutions, the first increase in five years.
That's according to the most recent data from the National Science Foundation's National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. During the period of rising funds, the number of academic institutions receiving funding rose by only one.
Maine fared last in federal funding among the six New England states, with $38.5 million in fiscal 2014, down significantly from the $52 million in fiscal 2013 for all science and engineering activities.
“The main culprit is my agency,” Michael Yamaner, survey statistician for the study, wrote in an email response to Mainebiz. “It looks like Maine universities did not get awarded as many NSF grants in fiscal 2014. [Funding] fell from $26.3 million to $14.7 million from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2014.”
The University of Maine topped universities in the state in terms of the total federal funding it attracted at $22,841,600. The University of New England came in a distant second at $3,503,700. Then came Maine Maritime Academy, the University of Maine system, Bowdoin, University of Southern Maine, Bates, Colby, UMaine Machias and Central Maine Community College.
Of the University of Maine's total funding, $17,680,300 went to research and development, while the University of New England got $3,478,100 for R&D. Bowdoin spent its entire funding on R&D, as did Colby and the University of Maine system. Maine Maritime Academy spent the largest part of its funds, $1,600,000, on facilities for instruction in science and engineering.
In terms of federal agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services, NSF and the Department of Defense collectively provided 85% of all the federal funding in fiscal 2014. Of the three, HHS accounted for 57% of the total funding.
The federal academic funding is in six categories: research and development (up $1.5 billion in fiscal 2014), R&D plant (up $89 million), facilities and instruction equipment (up $7 million), fellowships and training (up $444 million), general support (up $5 million) and other (up $334 million).
The NSF also collects data on independent nonprofit institutions in two of the six categories: R&D and R&D plant. During fiscal 2014, federal agencies funded 1,070 nonprofits to the tune of $6.4 billion, a decrease of 3% the prior fiscal year. The DoD accounted for the largest decrease in funding ($407 million).
Massachusetts General Hospital received the most federal R&D and R&D plant funds ($350 million) among nonprofits in FY 2014, with HHS providing 99% of the funding. No Maine nonprofit institutions ranked in the Top 10 for funding.
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