Colorado State University’s research spending exceeded $400 million for the first time in fiscal year 2020, with money from government organizations, nonprofits and industry comprising more than $325 million of the total.

“We weathered the storm this year, in the face of a global pandemic, and the result is not only positive, but a new record for the university,” said Alan Rudolph, vice president for research, to the campus news service. “The increase we’ve seen in research spending this year is a testament to the quality, breadth and depth of our faculty.”

The Center for Environmental Management on Military Lands awarded the university $91 million, or 28% of sponsored program spending. Research investments also pivoted to COVID-19 response, with a total of 44 active research projects underway thanks to $16 million in awards.

Unique to this year, the $1.8 trillion CARES Act that Congress passed early in the pandemic provided $8.8 million for CSU. 

The work of university scientists also resulted in 69 new patents and 32 intellectual property licensing agreements, income from which totaled $2 million.

By comparison, the University of Colorado reported receiving $1.4 billion in research funding during the last fiscal year, primarily for work at its Anschutz and Boulder campuses.