UCF Researchers Attract $106.6 Million in Funding in FY11

Researchers at the University of Central Florida received $106.6 million in external funding in fiscal year 2011. This represents the seventh straight year the university has surpassed the $100 million mark in external funding to support its research and commercialization efforts. The university's top three funded units, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Institute for Simulation and Training and the College of Sciences, each reported more funding than the previous year. A series of outreach efforts, including the university's nationally recognized Business Incubation Program, received 50 percent more funding than in Fiscal Year 2010.

Overall however, total funding was down from last year's record $133.3 million in funding. This is only the second time in 16 years that funding received by research faculty at the university has declined. The decrease is attributed to a combination of the national recession, the ending of federal stimulus funding programs that benefitted research agencies and a struggling state economy.

"We have, in fact, made some important inroads in creating and expanding services to help the state and the region work its way toward a better economic footing," said MJ Soileau, UCF's vice president for research & commercialization.

Specifically he cited the opening of the ninth location of the UCF Business Incubation Program in Daytona Beach on July 27. Cumulatively, the program is serving more than 100 current client companies and more than 60 companies have graduated from the program. In 2009 alone, these companies creating more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000.

Support for the incubators comes largely through local and regional governments with the help of organizations such as the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

The university received funding for other outreach efforts including:

  • $1.05 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for an innovative program to encourage students from four Florida universities to develop energy efficiency technologies and companies
  • $1 million from the National Science Foundation for a project to increase student and community interest in math, science and engineering
  • $2 million to establish and deliver the statewide GrowFL program targeting development of second-stage companies.

Federal funding of $57.4 million accounted for 54 percent of the total. Industry funding of $36.9 million was 35 percent and state funding of $12.2 million was 11 percent.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science received $16.9 million, the Institute for Simulation and Training $15.7 million and the College of Sciences $14.2 million.

UCF had 22 research millionaires in 2011, a group that received a $1 million or more in funding in a fiscal year.

Serving Faculty


The Office of Research serves UCF scholars as the official liaison between UCF and funding sources and by helping faculty work through the proposal and contract management process.

This site includes information to assist university scholars through the announcement, application and post-award stages and to familiarize prospective partners with the breadth of funded research conducted at the university.

UCF is committed to the pursuit of excellence and intellectual growth and seeks to excel at moving ideas to innovation and realization. The Carnegie Foundation rates UCF as a "very high research activity" university. We�ve been on an upward trajectory for years and in 2021 UCF surpassed the $212.9 million dollar mark in external funding. UCF's pioneering efforts to commercialize technology continue to stimulate local economies throughout the state. The number of patents at UCF also continue to climb with 64 U.S. issued patents produced in 2021.

Budget Templates


Below you will find NIH and NSF budget templates. Although they are tailored for NIH or NSF, they can be used for developing your budget for any funding source.


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