NDSU’s record success shows impact on all four priorities, but even more critical has been President Cook identifying maintaining R1 status as one of his five key priorities.
NDSU earned $142.5 million in external funding awards during Fiscal Year 2024, the latest fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2024. It’s the highest annual awards total to date and represents an increase of 76% over the previous year's mark of $80.9 million.
This amount is the total of 799 individual awards won by NDSU researchers during the year from federal, state and private funders. These awards support a range of research and instructional activities including research in areas of priority for the country including food, energy, and water security; cyber security and computer science; life sciences; and entrepreneurship.
All NDSU colleges experienced growth in awards received. Agriculture increased 43% to $42 million; Arts and Sciences increased 16% to $21 million; Engineering increased 12% to $15.4 million; Health and Human Sciences increased 39% to $12.8 million; and Business increased 1,170% to $701,000. Another notable growth in awards came from the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, which grew 177% to $11 million.
“NDSU’s total awards received in FY24 highlight the remarkable achievements of our researchers across a diverse range of disciplines,” said NDSU President David Cook. “Our researchers continue to excel and secure competitive awards on a national stage, underscoring that we have a truly world-class team driving innovation and discovery at NDSU.”
Major growth in federal funding
The largest component of FY24 awards came from federal sources at $114.5 million or 79% of the total of all funding. Notable increases in federal awards received from specific agencies include:
- U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which increased 145% to $36.1 million
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which increased 57% to $32.2 million
- U.S Department of Defense (DOD), which increased 68% to $17.1 million
- National Institute of Health (NIH), which increased 15.4% to $8.7 million.
"Reaching this milestone is a reflection of the dedication and discipline of our researchers in choosing the right awards to go after at the right time," said Colleen Fitzgerald, NDSU vice president of research. "Our people are making strategic decisions based on the strengths of NDSU and the needs of the state and nation."
The record amount for FY24 awards reflects a conscious emphasis laid out by Fitzgerald, who began leading the NDSU Office of Research and Creative Activity (RCA) in October, 2021. Soon after, NDSU secured the exclusive Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education R1 designation in December 2021. Throughout 2021 and 2022 in various presentations, Fitzgerald highlighted strategic priorities focused on both research and pathways into innovation:
- Increase overall annual rates of growth in research expenditures
- Grow federal funding to closer to one-third of the overall expenditures
- Strategically leverage state funding from federal opportunities, to maintain a balanced portfolio across campus
- Leverage federal innovation opportunities from existing assets, and the legislation that eventually became the CHIPS and Science Act.
NDSU’s record success shows impact on all four priorities, but even more critical has been President Cook identifying maintaining R1 status as one of his five key priorities.
Supporting important initiatives
FY24 award funding will support research on campus across various major initiatives, including:
- Year one funding of $15 million for a potential ten-year, $160 million award from the NSF for the North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine (FARMS); the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program was authorized by the federal CHIPS and Science Act in 2022.
- $1.9 million to support the NDSU Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies (CAPTS) which addresses U.S. agricultural policy issues.
- $4.8 million to support using AI and machine learning to help researchers design functional coatings.
- $1 million to study developing attachments for simultaneously cleaning and assessing the internal integrity of hazardous liquid pipelines.
- $3.2 million to research new protein treatments for Alzheimer's Disease in the brain via a simple nasal spray.
- $3 million to the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) for the U.S. Department of Transportation Region 8 Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability (CTIPS). A 10-member consortium, CTIPS’s focus area is preserving the existing transportation system.
Fitzgerald noted how the record-setting FY24 awards received total is only the first step of greater things coming soon for NDSU research. "This metric is a leading indicator of the research expenditures our scientists will make over the next few years as they conduct their research. But beyond that, the discoveries they make will have an impact on North Dakota and on people across the globe which will provide a wonderful return on investment to the various agencies who have placed their trust in their abilities."
Additional details about NDSU's FY24 awards can be found in the Awards Received Report.
