News Release

The Johns Hopkins University performed $1.14 billion in science, medical and engineering research in fiscal year 2002, making it — for the 24th year in a row — the country's leading academic institution in such expenditures, according to a new National Science Foundation ranking.

The university also ranked first on the NSF's list of federally funded research expenditures, spending $1.023 billion in FY2002 on research funded by such agencies as the National Institutes of Health, NASA, the NSF and the Department of the Defense.

On both lists, Johns Hopkins is the first university ever to cross the $1 billion threshold. In FY2001, Johns Hopkins topped both lists with $999 million in total research and $880 million in federally sponsored research.

Research funding at Johns Hopkins supports projects exploring everything from the microscopic world of stem cells to the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer's probes into the origins of the universe. Funding from federal and other sources supports research conducted at the university's School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Whiting School of Engineering, School of Nursing and Applied Physics Laboratory.

"Johns Hopkins performs medical, science and engineering research to expand knowledge and contribute discoveries and innovations that have lasting and meaningful benefits for humanity," said William R. Brody, president of the university.

"But there is an important side benefit," Brody said. "The fact that our scientists and engineers win this funding, and then spend much of it in Maryland, adds enormously to the strength of the state's economy. In the three years ending in fiscal 2002, Johns Hopkins added an average of 1,000 jobs a year in Maryland, many directly or indirectly related to research." The university's economic impact includes the use of its discoveries to promote private enterprise through the licensing of new technology to new and existing businesses. In fiscal 2002, Johns Hopkins researchers applied for 492 patents and were granted 86. The university also concluded 98 licensing or option agreements with businesses that year.

Johns Hopkins has led the NSF's research expenditure rankings each year since 1979, when the agency's methodology was revised in a way that included research spending by the Applied Physics Laboratory in the university's totals. On the FY2002 total research expenditure list, released in May, Johns Hopkins is followed by the University of California, Los Angeles, which spent $788 million in research and development in fiscal 2002. The University of Michigan (all campuses) ranked third with $674 million in expenditures, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison with $662 million. The University of Washington completed the top five at $627 million.

The total funding ranking includes not only research support from federal agencies but also support from corporations, foundations and other sources.

Related Links
www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/infbrief/nsf04319/start.htm