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Annual Report on
Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity
at the University of Michigan
FY2002
Fawwaz T. Ulaby
Vice President for Research
Delivered to the UM Board of Regents on January 16, 2003
- Full-color PDF version of Report
- "Research and technology transfer realize award-winning year"
[University Record, Jan. 20, 2003] - "Research and technology transfer realize award-winning year"
Executive Summary
What spells "success" at a large research university? Without a doubt, the range and scope of the research conducted there-and its usefulness to society-is one of the most important components. And underlying such activity is the number and volume of research grants that provide important research opportunities for faculty, researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates to explore and make discoveries.
FY2002 was an award-winning year for University of Michigan research. The Institute for Scientific Information ranked UM No. 9 in a report examining the impact of research at the nation's top 100 federally funded U.S. universities in 21 fields, as measured by the citation impact of research papers. The value of UM research, and the University's efforts to make it available to society, was honored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) with an award given to the Office of Technology Transfer for "Exemplary Success in Commercializing Technology and Promoting Entrepreneurship in Michigan."
The MEDC award is especially gratifying. For several years, it has been apparent that alumni, the business community, State of Michigan officials, and the press have been disappointed in University of Michigan's showing in the area of technology transfer. Yet the UM Office of Technology Transfer was the only university technology program to be commended by the MEDC. Right now, Technology Transfer is in the middle of a ten-year transformation that includes a new staff mandate, new resources, new energy-and a new technology transfer vision worthy of the University of Michigan. MEDC recognized the changes that already have taken place and has confidence that our plan for vitality will come to fruition.
In these uncertain economic times, all of our sponsors-federal, state, and local government; industry; individuals; and foundations-continue to have faith in us. In fact, this year marks the twentieth straight year of research increases at the University. Research expenditures in FY2002 increased by 10.8% over the previous year, bringing the total to nearly $656 million. Led by a 17% boost in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (which includes the National Institutes of Health), the percentage increase is the largest in more than ten years, and resulted from growth in nearly all major areas of research. We also have faith in ourselves: The University allocated more than $100 million for research, a 6% increase from the previous year.
Our success is evident from the smallest units to the largest. Featured in this report are the School of Nursing and the School of Natural Resources and Environment. We will share a brief analysis of why research activity for each is doing so well.
The awards and the research expenditures demonstrate the foundation we have laid, the impact we are making, and the good story we have to tell. Part 1 of this report elaborates on the important financial indicators of how well the University of Michigan is doing in conducting valuable research and educating students. Part 2 shares OVPR's perspective on technology transfer's past and present-and the brilliant future we have planned.
Important research culminates in something that is useful to society. Vital technology transfer demonstrates how a research university fulfills its obligation to society in important economic ways.
By all counts, University of Michigan research is alive-and thriving!
[top]
- Full-color PDF version of Report
- "Research and technology transfer realize award-winning year"
[University Record, Jan. 20, 2003] - "Research and technology transfer realize award-winning year"