Sponsored research and contract funding up more than 5 percent for 2000-01

For the sixth consecutive year, FIU researchers attracted record levels of sponsored research and contract funding: $61.2 million for 2000-01, an increase of more than 5 percent over the previous year.

Nearly $42.5 million of the total came from federal grants: more than $33 million in direct federal grants and $9.4 million in "flow-through" funds. Federal funds are the most competitive funding source and are a key measure of the success of a university research program.

"Despite a substantial slowdown in federal funding due to the change in presidential administrations, it was another banner year for external support of our growing research programs," said Tom Breslin, vice president for Research. "Our success is a tribute to the ability and commitment of our faculty to compete at the national level."

During the past year, the University achieved a landmark when its Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (HCET) received a $35 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy -- the largest single grant in the University's history. The grant, which provided $7 million toward the 2000-01 total, was in support of the center's research, development and demonstration of innovative environmental cleanup technologies.