Suggested Language for Funding Proposals
Revised May 2010
The statistics and narrative below can be placed in NIH grant proposals in the “Scientific
Environment” section, in the “Institutional Support” section of NSF proposals, and in the background section of other grant proposals.
General Information on the U of M http://www.grad.umn.edu
& http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/about.php
Founded in 1851 as a public land-grant university, the University of Minnesota is the state’s only research university and a major center of education, creative scholarship, research and service.
The University’s mission, carried out throughout the state, is threefold, research and discovery, teaching and learning, and outreach and public service. The main campus is in the Twin Cities of
Minneapolis and St. Paul and there are four coordinate campuses: Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Rochester. The University has 18 colleges and professional schools. The U of M is one of the largest universities in the U.S., with more than 66,000 students and some 4,000 fulltime faculty, and is one of the largest employers in Minnesota.
The U of M is also one of only four universities in the nation that have a Medical School,
College of Veterinary Medicine, Engineering School, and Agricultural College on the same campus.
This makes the U of M one of the nation’s largest and most complex campuses and significantly facilitates interdisciplinary research and projects.
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Distinguished faculty including 31 members of the National Academy of Science, 23 members of the National Academy of Engineering, and 30 members of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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Each year, over 2500 graduate degrees are awarded across hundreds of fields.
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The U of M is home to 1100 post-doctorate fellows in 175 fields.
University of Minnesota Investment in Research http://www.oar.umn.edu/trends.index.cfm
The University of Minnesota makes ongoing and strategic investments in research infrastructure, ensuring the dynamic continuation of the U of M’s research program. The annual investment in research and development is $585.9 million, placing the U of M ninth in the National Science
Foundation Survey of Research and Development Expenditures, 2009. Additional highlights and support for research:
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Currently the U of M is developing a biomedical research complex along the northeast corner of the Minneapolis campus.
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U of M researchers have received 281 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) awards with an authorized amount of $141 million, according to the Office of Oversight,
Research, and Analysis (OAR) in 2009.
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Federal agencies account for 68% of sponsored expenditures, with National Institutes of
Health (NIH) leading the way at 41% (followed by the National Science Foundation at 10%) according to the Office of Research, Analysis and Oversight.

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In 2008, the state of Minnesota began awarding capital bonding funds specifically aimed at laboratory improvement and renovation; this continued in 2010 at a level of $6.7 million.
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The Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides microcomputer and mainframe service and support to faculty for research and instructional computing. It manages more than 20 servers and central system computers running a wide variety of software, including statistics and graphics packages, programming languages, mathematics and engineering libraries.
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The University of Minnesota Library is ranked 15 th
among major research universities in the
United States (according to the Chronicle of Higher Education) with 6.9 million volumes, over 77,000 serials and annual expenditures exceeding $22 million.
University of Minnesota Economic Impact http://www1.umn.edu/pres/capital.html
As the state’s only research university, the University of Minnesota is the economic engine for
Minnesota. Philip Pardey, professor of science and technology policy and director of the
University’s International Science and Technology Practice and Policy Center, assessed data from a recent “Connecting with Our Alumni” survey. The study revealed that University graduates play a major role in the economic vitality of their communities in Minnesota and around the world. Survey results show that alumni started an estimated 10,000 Minnesota companies, employing a half-million workers, and generating $100 billion in annual revenues.
According to Pardey, “A good deal of the benefits accrue to Minnesota in the form of strong job growth, higher than otherwise incomes, and stimulated local business formation and performance. Overwhelming evidence shows investing in a skilled labor force and research is the key to long-run economic growth, and the University is well positioned to continue driving
Minnesota’s economy.” i
The U of M’s impact is felt far and wide, according to a 2003 study:
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More than 21,500 jobs are directly related to research grants awarded to the U of M at the time of the report.
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Each year the U of M makes major contribution to Minnesota’s workforce needs by providing: o 13,000-plus graduate students o 40% of Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering (STEM) degrees at a bachelor’s level or higher o Majority of engineers o Nearly 90% of health care professionals
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U of M alumni have had a significant economic impact in Minnesota and across the U.S.: o Formed 10,000 companies in Minnesota and another 9,000 across the nation o These companies employ 500,000 people in Minnesota and another 600,000 nationally o On an annual basis these companies generate $100 billion in revenues in
Minnesota and an additional $130 billion nationally

In addition, a 2005 Institute of Technology (IT) alumni survey found its graduates have created
4,150 active companies in Minnesota with annual revenue of $46 billion that employ about
175,000 people. http://blog.lib.umn.edu/itcomm/news/2005/04/it_survey_alumni_companies_emp.html
Commercialization of University Research http://www.research.umn.edu/report.html
During the period spanning fiscal year 2009, the U of M’s overall technology commercialization revenue increased nearly 10% to a total of over $95 million. Excluding from the total royalties associated with the sale of the AIDS drug Ziagen, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, revenue still grew by 11%, to $8.7 million. The dramatic transformation technology commercialization at the
U of M over the past three years is now bearing fruit. In fact the Office of Technology
Commercialization (OTC) is now being sought out by peer institutions as a benchmark for best practices. (Information from the 2009 Annual Report from the Office of the Vice President for
Research.)
As an example of our new work, a recent start-up blends research using stem cells, genes, and devices to develop novel cardiac and vascular technologies – ones to prevent, treat, and hopefully one day, cure heart ailments.
Other highlights of technology commercialization:
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During the past fiscal year the number of invention disclosures from faculty and staff grew by 12% to over 240, with 65 new U.S. patent filings.
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The U of M acquired 44 new licenses and provided venture capital for a new start-up company which will eventually spin-off from the University.
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Currently, the U of M holds 306 revenue-generating agreements providing financial returns to the University.
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The Scientist magazine placed the U of M fourth among U.S. research universities for patent creation and innovation.
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University-based technologies have figured prominently in the launch of 11 new companies over the past two years. i
Anderson, Steven. Surveying the alumni landscape. M. Fall 2006. < http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/2006/UR_111996_REGION1.html
>
Accessed 5/17/10.