GREENSBORO (August 23, 2023) – Less than two weeks after it announced it makes a $2.4 billion economic impact on North Carolina’s economy, N.C. A&T State University announced it has reached nearly $150 million a year in sponsored research.
The university said it received $147.4 million in research and program funds in fiscal 2023 – a $50 million increase over the previous year and an $85 million increase since fiscal 2020, said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.
“That’s outstanding,” Martin told more than 1,000 faculty and staff members Saturday. “That not only represents the first time that our faculty have won more than $100 million in external support, it amounts to astonishing growth of 138% over a four-year span.
“Those grants fund significant scientific discovery and the pursuit of solutions that advance the human condition.”
Dr. Eric R. Muth, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, said A&T is now recognized for research that ranges from autonomous vehicles to nanoscale materials to plant science.
“Our dedicated faculty and their research teams continue to surpass goals and overachieve as we advance and develop as a high-impact research university,” Muth said.
Some of the university’s largest awards come from the federal government.
Among the grants A&T received in FY2023 were a $24 million U.S. Department of Commerce grant to model a clean-energy training initiative, as well as an $18 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to increase participation of minority students in food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences.
Faculty members also were awarded three patents in FY2023, reaching a total of 66 patents awarded for A&T research. See more detail about N.C. A&T sponsored research here.1
IN A BRIEFING for reporters today, Martin outlined plans for construction, including a $64 million residential complex with beds for 413 students, as well as plans to expand doctoral programs as A&T seeks to become an R1 (very high research activity) university.
“This is a big deal,” he said of the research numbers. “This is significant growth in our research.”
A&T is one of four public universities – along with Western Carolina, UNC Charlotte and East Carolina – that are part of NCInnovation, a nonprofit that intends to help more North Carolina universities commercialize their research.
Legislators negotiating the state budget are debating how much to put into the nonprofit – the state House’s version of the budget included $50 million, and the Senate budget more than $1.4 billion.
Martin praised the effort as one that will turn ideas into jobs, and he said the volume of research at A&T will be a factor.
“Our $147.4 million puts us in a very competitive posture,” he said.
1 https://www.ncat.edu/news/2023/08/record-sponsored-award-activity.php.
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