University Funding:
Assessing Federal Funding Mechanisms for University Research
RCED-86-75: Published: Feb 7, 1986. Publicly Released: Feb 7, 1986.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
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In response to a congressional request, GAO assessed the role and impact of different funding mechanisms on university scientific research, specifically whether: (1) particular funding mechanisms played a role in helping universities improve program quality; and (2) individual project grants and center grants had differing effects on research performance.
GAO studied five universities, whose research programs' quality had improved, to determine: (1) what funding and other strategies these universities used to improve selected departments; and (2) how the departments were able to finance their program improvement initiatives. GAO found elements common to all five universities: (1) an explicit commitment from the university to improve its program through increases in internal and external funding and personnel changes; (2) seed funding from government sources, such as National Science Foundation grants, or from private industry, the state government, or the university; (3) after the investment of seed money, the individual project mechanism was the primary source of support with supplemental funds from state governments, endowments, industry, or university funds; and (4) the particular funding mechanism was less important than the ability to obtain grant funds. GAO also found that scientists felt that: (1) the field of science rather than the funding mechanism had a greater affect on coverage of resource requirements and administrative burden; (2) working under center grants provided more financial and resource support stability than working under individual project grants; and (3) they were more likely to perform innovative, high risk, or interdisciplinary research under center grants.
Mar 28, 2018
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Technology Assessment:
Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Opportunities, Challenges, and ImplicationsGAO-18-142SP: Published: Mar 28, 2018. Publicly Released: Mar 28, 2018.
Mar 23, 2018
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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education:
Actions Needed to Better Assess the Federal InvestmentGAO-18-290: Published: Mar 23, 2018. Publicly Released: Mar 23, 2018.
Feb 8, 2018
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Innovative Manufacturing:
Commerce Has Continued Efforts to Create a Loan Guarantee Program, but Future Steps Are UncertainGAO-18-276R: Published: Feb 8, 2018. Publicly Released: Feb 8, 2018.
Sep 28, 2017
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National Science Foundation:
Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Indirect Costs for ResearchGAO-17-721: Published: Sep 28, 2017. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2017.
Jun 29, 2017
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Defense Science and Technology:
Adopting Best Practices Can Improve Innovation Investments and ManagementGAO-17-499: Published: Jun 29, 2017. Publicly Released: Jun 29, 2017.
May 24, 2017
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National Science Foundation:
Preliminary Observations on Indirect Costs for ResearchGAO-17-576T: Published: May 24, 2017. Publicly Released: May 24, 2017.
Apr 27, 2017
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U.S. Manufacturing:
Federal Programs Reported Providing Support and Addressing TrendsGAO-17-240: Published: Mar 28, 2017. Publicly Released: Apr 27, 2017.
Jul 20, 2016
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Intellectual Property:
Patent Office Should Define Quality, Reassess Incentives, and Improve ClarityGAO-16-490: Published: Jun 30, 2016. Publicly Released: Jul 20, 2016. -
Intellectual Property:
Patent Office Should Strengthen Search Capabilities and Better Monitor Examiners' WorkGAO-16-479: Published: Jun 30, 2016. Publicly Released: Jul 20, 2016. -
Intellectual Property:
Survey of U.S. Patent Examiners (GAO-16-478SP, June 2016), an E-supplement to GAO-16-479 and GAO-16-490GAO-16-478SP: Published: Jun 30, 2016. Publicly Released: Jul 20, 2016.
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