The University of Oklahoma has broken another record, setting a new all-time high for sponsored research awards to its Norman campus. Sponsored research, or research funded by organizations outside of the university, is a vital part of the mission of large public research universities to create and disseminate new knowledge that impacts society and changes lives.
“Achieving another record-setting year for research is a strong indicator of the University of Oklahoma’s exceptional trajectory as a world-changing leader in innovation, research and collaboration,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “This milestone stands as a testament to the remarkable ability of our research community to translate their expertise into real-world impacts, fostering confidence and attracting transformational investments from our external partners.”
Over fiscal year 2023, OU’s Norman campus reported receiving $210.4 million in research funding, a nearly 33% increase from the previous fiscal year. Significantly, federally funded research increased by more than 50%, including increases in funding from several key federal agencies supporting OU research.
“The tremendous growth in federally sponsored research indicates that our strategic research framework in support of the Lead On, University strategic plan, along with our strategy to diversify OU’s research portfolio, is being successful,” said OU Vice President for Research and Partnerships Tomás Díaz de la Rubia. “Growth in research at the university means important work is being done to solve the greatest challenges facing our state, nation and the world, with increasing opportunities for our students to gain experience in research areas with high societal impact.”
Some of the most significant research awards received in FY23 include OU’s role in the Oklahoma Biotech Innovation Cluster, which received $35 million through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge of the U.S. Economic Development Association, $24.9 million of which is supporting four OU-led projects.
In 2023, eight junior faculty at OU received prestigious “CAREER” awards from the National Science Foundation to establish their research programs, breaking the previous university record of six faculty receiving CAREER awards in a single year.
Department of Defense-sponsored research has seen the largest year-over-year increase, with OU researchers leading various projects ranging from advanced radar development to artificial intelligence applications in supply chain resiliency and additive manufacturing supporting the U.S. Air Force’s sustainment of weapons systems readiness.