UMaine Achieves Record Growth Despite COVID-19 Challenges

University of Maine Research and Development Funding at All-Time High

Recently, it was announced that the University of Maine has set a new record in funding generated in support of research and development activities. Today, the final numbers have been determined, indicating that $125.2 million in R&D funding has been generated in fiscal year 2020. This corresponds to a 120% increase over the past four years, and an all-time high record realized by the university. Moreover, it has been determined that R&D expenditures in fiscal year 2020 have also set a new all-time high record, by reaching a total of $165.1 million, corresponding to 66% increase over the past four years.

These accomplishments are a clear reflection of the extraordinary growth in research and scholarly activity that have been taking place at the university. This stems from the university’s strategic pursuit of growth in research, its talented community of faculty, staff, and students, in conjunction with its centers and institutes and the proper research development and administration resources implemented to achieve and maintain the given growth.

“Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 during fiscal year 2020, this has been a remarkable year for research and scholarly achievements at Maine’s land, sea, and space grant university. The UMaine community has done an outstanding job to realize such accomplishments, which have significant impact on Maine and beyond, in social and economic areas ranging from the energy, environment, advanced structures, marine and forestry sectors, to advances in human health, food and agriculture, community revitalization, and cultural preservation,” says UMaine Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Kody Varahramyan.

By building on these achievements, the University of Maine is advancing as a modern 21st Century research university of global impact and local relevance, where over 85% of all university-based research in Maine takes place, in conjunction with 96% of all Ph.D.’s conferred in the state.

As Maine’s research university, research is the distinguishing part of UMaine’s mission, impacting all areas of the university achievements, from student success and cutting edge academic programs, to workforce development and economic advancement.


Contact: research@maine.edu