The trend is worrisome for leaders in some of Wisconsin?s leading research institutions, which starts with UW-Madison. In 2012, according to the NSF, UW-Madison ranked third among all U.S. universities in total academic R&D spending at $1.17 billion. Half of that investment ($581 million) came from federal sources … ?Federal research dollars are an investment in our nation?s economic future,? UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank wrote recently. ?Cutting these dollars in the short-run may seem easy, but the long-term effects are large and negative. ? If federal support for basic research declines, our opportunities for economic growth through innovation will decline.?
Office of Strategic Communication