Public universities in Ohio rank sixth in U.S. in research, development spending

By Harold Gwin

YOUNGSTOWN — Ohio’s public universities rank sixth in the nation in research and development expenditures.

That’s according to a study by the National Science Foundation, said Eric Fingerhut, Ohio’s chancellor of higher education.

Only the public institution schools in California, Texas, Michigan, Florida and Pennsylvania spend more, he said, noting that Ohio’s expenditure is more than $1 billion a year. By comparison, California stands at $4.5 billion, he said.

In terms of individual schools, The Ohio State University, often described as the “flagship” of Ohio’s public institutions, spent about $600 million on research and development in 2007, placing it ninth among all public and private schools.

Youngstown State University had the lowest research and development expenditures among the 13 institutions in the University System of Ohio, Fingerhut said.

But its numbers are increasing, according to a report issued by YSU in September which showed that the university’s faculty brought in more than $6.8 million in research and sponsored-program grants in fiscal 2007-08. That was a jump of nearly $1 million above the previous year, the university said.

It’s an area in which the chancellor would like to see YSU focus.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.