Dr. Andrew Armacost, President | University of North Dakota
Dr. Andrew Armacost, President | University of North Dakota
Funders have long played a central role in shaping scientific research, both in the past and today. An article by Ryan Summers, published on The Conversation’s website, discusses how funding sources—from government agencies to private industry—guide scientific discovery by setting priorities and determining which projects receive support.
The article highlights historical examples such as Charles Darwin’s 19th-century voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, which was funded by the British government for naval purposes. Darwin’s unpaid position as a naturalist was made possible through his family’s private wealth, allowing him to focus on scientific work that later influenced evolutionary theory.
In modern times, both government and private sector funding remain crucial for scientific progress. About 40% of basic research in the United States is federally funded. Federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) distribute research funds based on competitive reviews and congressional appropriations. Most of these funds go to universities and research institutions across various states.
“Funding for science is more than just the amount of money. To a large extent, the organizations that fund research set the agenda, and different funders have different priorities. It can also be hard to see the downstream benefits of scientific research, but they typically outweigh the upfront costs,” wrote Summers.
Basic research aims to generate new knowledge without immediate commercial objectives, while applied research seeks solutions to specific real-world problems. Private industry tends to invest more heavily in applied research due to its potential for profit and practical application.
Summers notes that federal agencies like NIH play a significant role in supporting both basic and applied science, particularly in areas such as drug development. Recent data indicate that industry now accounts for at least half of health and biomedical research investment in recent years, including clinical trials for new medical treatments.
“The NIH funded basic research that contributed to every single drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2010 and 2016. This includes key work that led to COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccination campaign likely saved the U.S. more than $1 trillion in health care expenses that would have otherwise been incurred and also saved lives,” Summers stated.
NSF-funded basic research has led to advances ranging from black hole imaging and ocean exploration to technologies behind smartphones, search engines, artificial intelligence, American Sign Language resources, kidney matching for transplants, and educational programming like “Bill Nye the Science Guy” and “The Magic School Bus.”
Funding decisions by institutions directly influence which areas of science advance. Changes or interruptions in financial support can threaten future discoveries with long-term impacts.
According to a coalition of research institutions, each dollar spent by NIH generates $2.56 in new economic activity. For fiscal year 2024, this means Congress’s $47.35 billion appropriation translated into $94 billion worth of economic activity through employment and purchases related to research.
Economist Pierre Azoulay and colleagues suggested that if NIH funding were reduced by 40%, more than half of FDA-approved drugs since 2000 might not exist—demonstrating how critical sustained investment is for future breakthroughs.
Faculty members at the University of North Dakota (UND) are encouraged to engage with The Conversation platform as authors. Those interested can refer to introductory materials or contact university communications staff for guidance.
“UND faculty members who’ve written for The Conversation report ‘outstanding’ experiences and say they’d recommend without hesitation that their colleagues become Conversation authors,” according to an earlier UND Today story.