Report: Wichita State ranks first in business-financed aerospace research

Wichita State University ranks first among U.S. universities for industry-funded aerospace research and development expenditures, according to WSU and data released this month by the National Science Foundation.

The data, compiled by NSF’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, showed WSU had $25.3 million in business-financed aeronautical and astronautical research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2013, the most recent data available.

Others in the top five, according to the foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development survey, were:

▪ State University of New York Albany Center of Nanoscale Science, with $8.8 million;

▪ Georgia Institute of Technology, with $5.9 million;

▪ Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with $4.3 million;

▪ and University of Notre Dame, with $3.3 million.

In fiscal year 2012, WSU had $23.2 million in industry-funded R&D, which also placed it highest in business-financed aeronautical and astronautical research, according to NSF data.

“For us to hold that ranking and attract more industry funding really says what Wichita State does differently, and it’s strictly related to how we do applied research in an applied environment,” said John Tomblin, WSU vice president for research and technology transfer.

Tomblin said the 2013 numbers reflect the research and development projects it worked on for 180 aerospace companies.

During 2013, WSU also received $5 million from federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration and NASA, as well as funding from the state of Kansas.

In a news release Tuesday, WSU credited the National Institute for Aviation Research for its strength in aerospace R&D funding.

WSU’s total aerospace research and development funding for 2013 totaled $39 million, ranking it fourth in the country for total aerospace R&D expenditures.

According to NSF data, here were the other top-five universities:

▪ Utah State University was No. 1 in total aerospace R&D funding with $62.4 million. Of that, $58.5 million was federal funding;

▪ Georgia Institute of Technology was second with $53.1 million. Of that, $39.5 million was federal funding;

▪ The University of Colorado Boulder was third at $39.9 million. Of that, $35.6 million was federal funding.

▪ The University of Alabama, Huntsville rounded out the top five with $38.9 million. Of that, $36.7 million was federal funding.

At least two of those universities, Utah State and GIT, are designated by the Department of Defense as University Affiliated Research Centers. Tomblin said that’s a designation WSU will seek.

“If we competed as a UARC that would really enhance our ability to attract more federal dollars,” Tomblin said.

He said the university is pursuing ways to earn that designation, including through the Kansas congressional delegation.

This story was originally published February 10, 2015 at 11:05 AM with the headline "Report: Wichita State ranks first in business-financed aerospace research."