UT Hits Record Research Number

The University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus spent a record $153.8 million in research and public service programs for federal and state governments and private industry in fiscal year 2011.

The school said in a news release that the figure was more than $20 million over the previous fiscal year. It was more than $12 million over the record set in fiscal year 2009.

The university said strengthening capacity and productivity in research is one of five key priorities in achieving its goal of becoming a top 25 university.

On a related topic, the school reported receiving $162.5 million in awards this year. The money went for research in labs and programs in engineering and science, along with faculty projects in the social sciences, education and the humanities.