Why University Research Matters

The Partnership

America’s leading research universities drive major breakthroughs that help us live healthier and longer lives. They innovate to keep our troops and our loved ones safe. They grow our economy. Every day, in university research labs across our country, scientists are hard at work for the American people. And that hard work has paid off - federally funded university research has fueled more than 80 years of U.S. scientific dominance. It has resulted in new discoveries and innovations that have improved our health, created new jobs and economic growth, and strengthened our nation.

Research universities:

Make us healthier. University research has led to the creation of new cures, drugs and treatments that help Americans lead longer and healthier lives. Research universities backed by the National Institutes of Health make discoveries that lead to opportunities for private sector medical and health care manufacturers, many right here in the U.S. The result? More than 200 new drugs and vaccines have been developed since 1980.
Make us wealthier. America’s leading research universities also make possible the creation of new products by U.S. companies, and even whole industries. Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin supported their early work on web search tools with National Science Foundation funding. Federally funded university research leads to an average of three new startup companies and two new products entering the U.S. market each day.
Make us stronger. University research strengthens our national defense. Department of Defense funded science has developed important tools that make our armed forces more lethal and help ensure that our troops can get home safely. Meanwhile, breakthroughs in software engineering, cybersecurity, and AI have bolstered U.S. military dominance.
Train the skilled American workers of the future. America’s leading research universities train the next generation of our nation’s scientists, engineers, and doctors. This creates a pipeline of expertise: from the lab and the classroom to the workplace. This builds the skilled workforce that American companies need to innovate and compete in a fiercely competitive global marketplace.