Summary

University Research is a large and growing industry in Alaska, providing 2400 jobs and a $92 million yearly payroll to the state.  Total expenditures have grown to $150 million per year, most of it from federal and corporate grants and contracts.
 
Since 2000, University of Alaska researchers have been working to reduce reliance on federal earmarks.  The majority of research money coming into UA is from competitive grants.

UA has an impressive track record of leveraging funds invested in research, achieving a return on investment of nearly 7 to 1 since FY00.  In today’s environment UA will achieve at least a 4 to 1 return, but a higher rate is actually more likely.

UA Research has contributed to the economic, social and cultural development of Alaska on every front – from language preservation to oil development, from agriculture to road building, from volcano- monitoring to fish pricing.  Applied and basic research will be needed even more if Alaska is to continue to flourish in the future.

By virtue of its geography and expertise in arctic research UA can be the premier institution for study of climate change and Northern adaptation and resiliency.  The need to capitalize on this advantage is urgent because tens of millions in research grants are expected to be dedicated to this endeavor in the next few years.

Research will be done in Alaska in geophysics, atmospherics, oceanography, fisheries, engineering, ecology, climate change, energy, and social and economic research.  The question is whether UA will participate or will it all be done by outside universities.  Without additional investment, UA faculty will not be as successful in competing for the grants.

State funds are a relatively small piece of the money invested in research. UA has relied on one-time funds, internal reallocations and other sources of unsustainable funds to achieve success to this point.  UA must have solid state funds to take advantage of the emerging research opportunities.  

Research is a highly valued industry all over the country; it provides high paying jobs, generates associated private sector business and employment opportunities, has no environmental impact, requires little or no regulatory oversight, and for very modest state investment, achieves incredible returns.  

Board of Regents’ FY09 Operating Request includes the following General Fund (GF) request for Research:

UAF:    $2,922.2 – Fairbanks Campus
Climate Impact & Alaska’s Natural Resources ($900.0 GF); Engineering, Transportation and Energy ($1,000.0 GF);
Biomedical and Health Research ($350.0); Graduate Student Support ($422.2); Arctic Region Supercomputer ($250.0 GF)

UAA:    $567.5 – Anchorage Campus
Climate Impact & Resource Economics ($66.4); Biomedical & Health Research ($200.0); Experimental Economics ($201.1 GF)
Graduate Student Support ($100.0)

UAS:    $100.0 – Juneau Campus
These funds will enhance competitive research.

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For Information Contact:
Pete Kelly, Director, State Relations
450-8006/465-2382