Why are lawmakers pressing for increased research dollars for Utah colleges?

SALT LAKE CITY — Talk surrounding Utah's public colleges and universities typically focuses on students, professors, academic programs and maybe football Saturdays.

"But I don't think we talk nearly enough about the research that is happening at our institutions — and how the work that they are doing is changing Utah," said Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton, during a recent Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee hearing.

"(Our research) is changing the world, and it's also helping our local industries be more successful."

A lengthy list of world-changing advancements has originated in Utah universities, noted Peterson — including the first artificial heart transplant, neural technology to assist paralysis patients, studies identifying the BRCA gene associated with cancer, and Nobel Prize-winning gene research.

But such scholarly inquiry doesn't happen accidentally, she added. It's intentional. "We make deliberate choices to invest in research and to make sure our students have these opportunities."

In a legislative push to ensure research, Peterson is cosponsoring HB373. The measure creates a pilot grant program for higher education research funding.

After already enjoying broad approval from the House, the bill is now in front of the Senate for final approval.

The grants outlined in HB373 are designed to support academic and scientific research across all of Utah's degree granting institutions at a moment when traditional funding for such efforts faces uncertainties.

Last year, the National Institutes of Health proposed federal changes in administering grant funding at institutions such as the University of Utah and Utah State University that engage in scientific and medical research.

Such changes to federal research funding have been challenged in the courts and helped precipitate HB373.

The proposed bill, according to Peterson, establishes a pilot grant program providing matching or seed funding for research at the eight institutions. The cash would come from a state-funded performance account — and lawmakers would be charged with approving research proposals while working with the Utah System of Higher Education and the recently launched Nucleus Institute, an initiative designed to function as an innovation hub in Utah.

The grant-receiving research projects, she added, would likely focus on vital fields such as critical minerals, aerospace and defense, water conservation, AI, energy and life sciences.

"Once we have those areas determined, then our universities will come up with their grant applications," said Peterson. "Our presidents will prioritize those applications, and then those will be sent in."

The state-funded research grants would be competitive while adhering to a selection criteria that prioritizes links to Utah industries and economic development, market potential and the availability of matching funds.

It's vital that Utah's schools lead on scientific research, noted Peterson. "Our higher education institutions have incredible opportunities to drive economic development in our state to help our industries — and to keep our country and our state ahead of China."

Scientific research: 'Fuel that drives innovation'

Following Peterson's bill presentation to colleagues in the House, Nucleus Executive Director Jefferson Moss, who also serves as the executive director of Utah's Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, said Utah's higher education institutions "are becoming a major economic development engine for the state."

But the world is entering a new era of aerospace, defense and energy, added Moss. All those industries demand "that deep research component."

BioUtah CEO Kelvyn Cullimore noted in a legislative hearing that research and development "is the fuel that drives innovation — and innovation is what attracts capital, builds companies and provides jobs."

The federal research grant landscape is uncertain, added Cullimore, so state support for inquiry is essential for R&D — "which really is the foundation of what we do in this state."

Utah Higher Education Commissioner Geoffrey Landward also voiced support for HB373, saluting its forethought. "Twenty years from now, we will look at this type of program and this kind of investment into research, and recognize that it had a profound impact on the future of the state."

Ambitious cash request for Utah research

In conjunction with HB373, the bill's co-sponsor, Sen. Ann Millner, R-Ogden, is also requesting $100 million in state funds for a higher education research pilot program to support targeted research areas such as quantum computing, biotech, AI and critical minerals.

During session testimony in front of the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the former Weber State University president said the state of Utah can't be successful "if we don't have a strong research program."

More state contributions are in order, said Millner.

"If we're going to be No. 1 in innovation — and stay No. 1 in innovation — we have to invest," she said. "Particularly in an environment where the federal government is changing their approach and their strategy."

Investing in higher education research, she added, yields broad outcomes and benefits.

"We're going to be able to make a difference," said Millner. "Not just in the economic development of our state and not just in having higher paying jobs — but we will lead in making a difference in people's lives and in their health.

"We will lead in national defense. We will lead in driving economic growth. And we can't do that without creating this research ecosystem."

Working under the HB373's guardrails, recipients of Millner's requested funds would be well positioned to receive matching grants from federal and private sources.

Such grants, she said, would represent "target investments" that link to Utah's major economic drivers and essential industry clusters.

Millner acknowledged that her $100 million request is a heavy lift. But it's an elevating lift for Utah and the nation.

"As a country, we're losing out to China … we're losing ground," she said. "Let's not make that acceptable here in Utah. Let's show the country how we can continue to lead."

Related topics