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March 5, 1998

Pitt ranks second in state in overall R&D funding for science, engineering

Pitt is ranked second in Pennsylvania in terms of overall federal research and development funding for science and engineering, according to a new report to Congress by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The report, released this week, shows that Pitt received 23 percent of the federal dollars allocated to R&D at Penn-sylvania's colleges and universities, worth $171 million, just behind the University of Pennsylvania at 27 percent, based on 1995 data.

The overall research and development picture for Pennsylvania is improving despite decreases in defense spending, according to the report. Pitt was ranked 17th nationally in federal R&D support, ahead of both Penn State and Carnegie Mellon. In 1994-1995 Pennsylvania jumped from 11th to ninth among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of federal dollars received. The report noted that although the Department of Defense provides the bulk of R&D money statewide, the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) is now the largest single agency source of funds for Penn-sylvania's universities.

The rapidly growing U.S. economy caused federal R&D appropriations to improve in 1998. According to the report, there have been significant increases in 1998 for federal agencies that play important roles in Pennsylvania's federal R&D funding portfolio, such as the National Science Foundation and HHS, which includes the National Institutes of Health.


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