While few funding requests from the N.C. General Assembly have been met in the past two years, researchers at UNC-system schools were fortunate.
Despite decreasing their funding by $70 million, the state legislature allocated $22 million for science and research equipment for the UNC system — the first time the state has ever given money to universities for this purpose.
The new funding will enhance the universities’ ability to obtain research grants, said Steven Leath, vice president for research for the UNC system.
Grants go to scientists pursuing the most cutting-edge work, and UNC-system schools need the best equipment to conduct grant-attracting research, Leath said.
“(The $22 million) will give us a competitive advantage with our sister states,” Leath said.
N.C. Sen. Tony Foriest, D-Alamance, co-chairman of the appropriations on education and higher education committee, said the state legislature felt funding the university’s request for equipment was critical to the economic health of the state.
“We don’t want to cut the fundamentals more than we need to move forward,” Foriest said.
“Look at the businesses that have started up as a result of the core investments we have made.”
He said investment in research and technology has always paid off for North Carolina, citing the Research Triangle Park’s development as an example.