CU Boulder on track to continue research growth, goal of $800m in funding by 2026
May 8—The University of Colorado Boulder received $658 million in research funding during the last fiscal year and is on track to reach its Strategic Plan goal of $800 million in 2026.
University of Colorado Regent Chair Lesley Smith said research at CU Boulder is "doing great" and financially on track to meet its $800 million goal, which benefits the local and national community.
"It helps prop up the economy, and the campus makes discoveries that benefit not only Colorado, but the nation and potentially the world," Smith said.
The Strategic Plan is a series of goals to guide the University of Colorado system into the next five years and beyond. The four pillars — affordability and student success, discovery and impact, diversity, inclusion, equity and access and fiscal strength — make up the Strategic Plan.
With a specific focus on the discovery and impact pillar with an emphasis on research, the University of Colorado Board of Regents listened to updates on each school's research and research funding at its last regular meeting on April 27.
CU Boulder reached $658 million in research funding during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. As of March 31, CU Boulder received $551.5 million in research funding for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation, said research has grown at a very high pace, growing 87% in research funding in the past decade.
"This research enterprise is really important to recruit, train and provide excellent career options to our students," Ruzzene said.
Ruzzene said CU Boulder's success in research also helps recruit the best researchers and faculty who help give back to society through their work. The research done at CU Boulder also creates jobs in the Boulder area, attracts businesses and helps grow the economy, Ruzzene said.
Future research goals include expanding areas CU Boulder is strong in, such as space and aerospace, earth and environmental science, health and wellness, among others.
"The goals are to build on our strengths and areas of excellence," Ruzzene said.
Other goals include growing national security research and grow collaboration to enhance National Institute of Health funding.
"I think it's really important for us to be aware and conscious of our role in the innovation ecosystem of Boulder in the city, county and state," Ruzzene said. "We also need to be aware of our role in the national level in terms of solving the most pressing problems of society and also identifying what the next challenges will be and how to address them."
