Researchers awarded more than $250 million, a new single-year funding record

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University researchers received a record level of funding in the 2020 fiscal year, bringing in $250.1 million in grants from federal, state and private sources.

The quarter-billion milestone in research funding is more than $16 million higher than the previous record, which FSU posted in fiscal year 2019.

“Florida State is a trusted research partner, and this funding shows the confidence that federal, state and local officials have in the university,” said Vice President for Research Gary K. Ostrander. “Our researchers do excellent and important work, and this support will help them continue their efforts.”

The funding will support research in a wide range of disciplines, from health sciences to engineering to answering some of the many research questions posed by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

The university received nearly $20 million for projects at the Center for Advanced Power Systems, a research center focused on advancing the field of power systems technology. That funding includes $14.6 million in funding from the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research for the Electric Ship Research and Development Consortium, which is working to help develop a fully integrated electric ship that uses a single power source to control propulsion, computer systems and other electric components onboard.

The university also received $9.4 million for the Florida Center for Reading Research. The center brings together faculty from different disciplines to advance the understanding of reading to improve learning and achievement from birth through adulthood. Through projects such as the Florida Learning Disabilities Research Center and the Regional Education Laboratory Southeast, the center’s work is improving education across the state and region.

The news is a reminder that even as the pandemic takes a toll on the American economy, researchers at Florida State are still urgently pursuing their work.

It also shows the crucial role research plays in the American economy at large and in the Tallahassee region. Along with advancing innovation that drives economic growth, this funding supports thousands of jobs.

“One-quarter of a billion dollars is a big deal for Florida State and for Tallahassee,” Ostrander said.