PITT RANKED SECOND IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING

PITTSBURGH, Mar. 4 -- The University of Pittsburgh 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 today shows that Pitt received 23 percent of the federal dollars allocated to R&D at Pennsylvania'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. Al Teich, director of Science Policy Programs at AAAS briefed U.S. representatives and senators from Pennsylvania on Capitol Hill yesterday about the report. "Because of the long-term decline in defense spending," said Teich, "Pennsylvania should pay careful attention to diversifying in non-defense research areas in order to secure its leadership as a high-tech state in the 21st century."

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 Pennsylvania's universities.

The report also indicates that the numbers of college degrees in science and engineering, both undergraduate and graduate, are increasing in Pennsylvania, following a national trend.

The rapidly growing U.S. economy caused federal R&D appropriations to improve in 1998 compared to preceding years, when the desire to reduce the federal deficit caused congressional and White House policy-makers to call for reductions in civilian R&D spending. 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.

The report is the ninth in a series of regional reports published by AAAS. The reports seek to inform scientific and engineering communities about the impact of federal spending trends on R&D at the state and regional levels.

For more information and copies of the report contact Dave Amber at the AAAS at (202) 326-6434.

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