Faculty at New York's leading research universities brought $1.2 billion in federal research grants into the state in 1996, which resulted in support for an estimated 42,444 full- and part-time jobs statewide, according to a survey from Cornell University.

New York is third in the country (behind California and Texas) in attracting federal research dollars, which now account for more job creation than several big industries that were major employers in previous decades, among them producers of paper, textiles, chemicals and plastics.

"Our universities' commitment to generating new knowledge produces an enormous economic benefit to the state that is often overlooked," said Norman R. Scott, Cornell vice president for research and advanced studies. "This survey graphically demonstrates how important university research is to New York's economic base."

The survey, conducted by Cornell's Government Affairs Office, tabulated federal research grant support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Health and Human Services/National Institutes of Health (DHHS/NIH), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other agencies to come up with the top 10 New York recipients of federal research dollars. The leading recipient institutions include:

• State University of New York (SUNY) system, $245.7 million. (The leading recipients are the University at Buffalo at $83.9 million and the State University at Stony Brook at $75.9 million)
• Cornell University, $212.8 million
• Columbia University, $193.8 million
• CUNY system, $131.2 million (Mt. Sinai Medical Center receives $56.7 million of the total)
• University of Rochester, $121.6 million
• New York University, $115.4 million
• Yeshiva University, $73 million
• Rockefeller University, $41.3 million
• Syracuse University, $34.3 million
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, $26.5 million

This $1.2 billion total actually understates the amount of federal research dollars coming into New York, said Michael P. Voiland, Cornell senior legislative associate, who conducted the survey.

"The total amount of federal research dollars reaching all New York higher education institutions significantly exceeds $1.2 billion, as about 200 other institutions in the Empire State are not captured in this survey," Voiland said. The number of jobs resulting from federal dollars was computed by applying U.S. Department of Commerce/Bureau of Economic Analysis standardized employment multipliers for the higher education sector to the grand total, he explained.

Earlier this year, Cornell strengthened its outreach commitment to local and statewide economies by consolidating the economic development functions of four of its technology access units into a Cornell Office of Economic Development, headed by Lynn W. Jelinski, a professor of engineering who is also director of the New York State Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) in Biotechnology. Cornell is also helping to fund the start-up of the Tompkins County Business Innovation Center, an incubator program serving Tompkins County.

In central New York, Cornell alone has helped to stimulate the start of 60 firms with more than 2,800 employees and annual revenues approaching $300 million, according to Scott.

A positive economic impact is not the most important benefit of university research, however, Scott said.

"Every dollar invested in university research delivers great returns in advancing health care, understanding the physical universe, developing new food sources and furthering knowledge in almost every area of our lives," he said. "This investment also enhances the educational environment for students."

                       DOD     DOE     NSF     DHHS (NIH)       NASA   OTHER     TOTAL
SUNY*                 16.0     8.1     35.9    131.3 (104.0)     4.4    50.0     245.7
Cornell               17.3     4.4     81.6     87.7  (87.7)     4.5    17.3     212.8
Columbia              11.6     8.7     26.7    120.2 (113.6)     5.3    21.3     193.8
CUNY**                 2.8     0.8     15.9     77.0  (77.0)     2.7    32.0     131.2
Rochester              6.9    23.8     10.2     73.1  (68.9)     1.1     6.5     121.6
NYU                    4.9     3.2      7.2     83.6  (78.5)     0.3    16.2     115.4
Yeshiva                0.5      -       0.5     71.8  (71.0)      -      0.2      73.0
Rockefeller            0.6     1.1      1.3     38.3  (38.3)      -       -       41.3
Syracuse               6.1     1.6      4.4      4.9   (4.5)     0.9    16.4      34.3
RPI                    7.5     1.8     10.5      1.8   (1.7)     1.8     3.1      26.5
Totals                74.2    53.5    194.2    689.7 (645.2)    21.0   163.0    1195.6

GRAND TOTAL:  $1.196 billion provided in FY96

* Of the SUNY total, the University at Buffalo accounts for $83.9 million, and the State University at Stony Brook accounts for $75.9 million.

** Of the CUNY total, Mt. Sinai Medical Center accounts for $56.7 million.