For the seventh year in a row, the University of Georgia (UGA) has reported record research and development (R&D) expenditures, reaching $654 million for fiscal year 2025. This marks a 4.1% increase over the previous year and represents a 75% rise since 2015.
“Through purposeful research, the University of Georgia continues to drive discovery and pursue solutions to the greatest challenges facing our state, the nation and beyond,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “Our talented faculty, staff and students set the standard for excellence in research, and I am truly grateful for their efforts in support of our vital mission as a land-grant and sea-grant institution.”
The university attributes this growth to targeted recruitment of leading faculty members and ongoing upgrades to its research infrastructure. Since 2020, UGA has added 223 scholars and now counts 400 endowed professorships.
Infrastructure projects continue at UGA’s Science and Ag Hill with construction entering its third phase last year. In addition, work began on a $100 million medical education and research building for the university’s new School of Medicine. The school is projected to have an economic impact between $1.8 billion and $2.3 billion on Georgia by 2040.
“UGA’s research enterprise is a dynamic engine for progress in our state,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “We are proud of how our faculty translate their expertise into breakthroughs that change lives for people across the state and around the world. It is this commitment to service and innovation that defines us as Georgia’s flagship institution.”
Federal R&D expenditures at UGA rose by 11%, with significant increases from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense (64.6%), National Science Foundation (46.5%), NASA (41.1%), Agency for International Development (17.9%), U.S. Department of the Interior (16.8%), U.S. Department of Commerce (14.1%), U.S. Department of Agriculture (10.4%) and U.S. Department of Energy (7.2%).
Funding from federal, state, and private sources supports various fields including glycoscience, precision agriculture, regenerative medicine, and educational technology.
One major initiative is an $18 million grant from NSF’s BioFoundries program supporting the BioFoundry: Glycoscience Resources, Education and Training program led by Lance Wells at UGA’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center.
Another project involves Xiaoming Zhai from the Mary Frances Early College of Education using a $10 million grant from the Institute of Education Sciences to establish a center focused on best practices for generative artificial intelligence in STEM+C education.
In regenerative medicine research, Steven Stice leads a team studying treatments for traumatic brain injury using mesenchymal stem cells with support from a $3.7 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
UGA also partnered with Grand Farm to establish Grand Farm in Perry, Georgia—an initiative aimed at developing agricultural technologies suited to specialty crops in Southeast agriculture—with field projects starting in 2025.
“Researchers at the University of Georgia continue to chart new territory for impact, innovation and development of the workforce of tomorrow,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “They meet the challenges of the moment, provide new solutions and position UGA as a leader in the state and beyond.”
According to AUTM’s annual survey AUTM Academic Research Licensing Survey, UGA ranked first among all American universities in bringing products based on its research to market—a position it has held or shared over ten consecutive years.
Academic research remains central to UGA’s estimated annual economic impact on Georgia ($8.4 billion as measured in FY24). The latest expenditure data will inform future rankings in NSF’s Higher Education Research & Development survey NSF HERD Survey, where last year’s results placed UGA at No. 59 out of more than 680 institutions surveyed.
