Missouri Ranks High in Nation for Life Sciences Academic Research and Development
In 2009, Missouri ranked 13th nationally for academic research and development expenditures in the life sciences industry, with over $820 million in spending for research. Overall academic research expenditures in Missouri were nearly $1.01 billion, up from $900 million in 2006, ranking Missouri 17th in the nation. Among border states, only Illinois ranked higher in academic research and development funding.
The federal government remains the largest source of academic R&D funding, accounting for nearly 60 percent of total R&D expenditures. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the National Institutes of Health, has historically been the largest provider of federal R&D funding to universities and colleges. The National Science Foundation was the second largest provider.
Medical sciences and biological sciences accounted for more than one-half of all research and development at universities and colleges in 2009. Bioengineering and biomedical engineering research and development continues to be the fastest-growing field, with an average increase of 12.7% annually since 2002.
The majority (81.3%) of Missouri's academic research and development funds, in 2009 went to Life Sciences projects, with the remaining funds allocated to Engineering (8.3%) and Physical Sciences (3.9%).
| 2009 Border States Academic Research and Development | |||||||
| Division and State | National Rank All R&D Expenditures | All R&D Expenditures in Millions | Environmental Sciences | Life Sciences | Engineering | Physical Sciences | All Others |
| Illinois | 8 | $2,113 | 2.9% | 62.6% | 12.7% | 8.7% | 13.1% |
| Missouri | 17 | $1,009 | 1.3% | 81.3% | 8.3% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
| Tennessee | 21 | $833 | 1.3% | 63.5% | 14.1% | 5.7% | 15.3% |
| Iowa | 28 | $563 | 1.9% | 67.5% | 14.3% | 6.6% | 9.7% |
| Kentucky | 29 | $540 | 1.3% | 71.6% | 13.0% | 3.9% | 10.2% |
| Kansas | 31 | $441 | 3.7% | 59.9% | 21.9% | 6.2% | 8.2% |
| Nebraska | 34 | $394 | 1.3% | 68.0% | 10.4% | 4.0% | 16.4% |
| Oklahoma | 35 | $336 | 12.2% | 56.5% | 15.3% | 5.8% | 10.2% |
| Arkansas | 40 | $240 | 1.3% | 77.2% | 11.3% | 7.0% | 3.2% |
| United States | **** | $54,935 | 5.4% | 59.7% | 15.7% | 7.8% | 11.4% |
Source: National Science Foundation
