Research funding update, fall 2021

Binghamton University’s research expenditures — the money spent on research — declined slightly to $46.5 million in 2020-21.

The dip of less than 1% follows a 3.5% decrease in 2019-20, with both years reflecting challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Bahgat Sammakia, vice president for research, noted that research spending is still up more than 25% from where it stood five years ago, a testament to the innovative work of Binghamton scholars. The Division of Research continues to partner with faculty to explore ways to improve support for grant applications and sponsored funds administration.

That includes convening a group of faculty members and research administrators to discuss ways to plan for the post-COVID future of Binghamton’s research portfolio. The group has spoken about how the campus can take advantage of new federal initiatives, too.

The working group is named Strategic Planning for Research Enterprise Evolution, or SPREE. Faculty have formed sub-committees focused on subjects such as health and health disparities, climate change and more and are discussing whether there may be the potential for federal center proposals in these topical areas.