Indiana University exceeds $1 billion in research funding for the first time

Indiana University surpassed $1 billion in research and development expenditure for the first time in its history, a statement from the university announced last week. The figure, reached in the institution’s fiscal year 2025 marks a 34% increase since the conclusion of the same period in 2021. The university also reported over $942 million in sponsored awards in the same fiscal year.

IU President Pamela Whitten highlighted the impact of these investments, saying that the university’s research efforts “help us deliver medical breakthroughs, develop workforce pipelines and partner with industry to turn ideas into impact.” 

Several key initiatives have driven the funding surge. Notably, a $138 million grant from the Lilly Endowment supports the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, which aims to foster innovation and commercialization in life sciences. Additionally, a $4 million grant aims to advance microelectronics research, addressing critical state and national industry priorities. According to the University, IU is also one of only two centers nationwide studying Alzheimer’s and related dementias using stem-cell-based brain models, backed by a $16.8 million project funded by the National Institute on Aging. 

In 2023, the university launched their “IU 2030” strategic plan. At the time, IU Bloomington Provost Rahul Shrivastav was quoted by Indiana Public Media saying ““The strategic plan was designed to say, ‘what are things we don’t do that we need to invest in.’” The growth in these figures would appear to be tangible evidence of where that investment has gone: with a belief in the transformative nature of research and creative activity and its potential to deliver tangible economic and societal benefits both within Indiana and beyond. 

This is further evidenced by the statements of Russell Mumper, IU vice president for research, who said “Expanded research creates job opportunities and hands-on training for our students to meet workforce needs of Indiana employers — all of which helps attract and retain top talent right here in Indiana” in the university’s announcement. 

The upward trajectory in research funding from the University has been consistent over recent years. In fiscal year 2024, IU reported $785.4 million in sponsored awards, comprising $552 million in federal and $233 million in non-federal funding, with the IU School of Medicine receiving the largest share at $517.4 million. The Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses also contributed significantly, receiving $147.2 million and $69.8 million respectively. The leap in 2025 figures solidify IU Indianapolis’s recognition as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education earlier this year - marking it as Indianapolis’s only top-tier research university.

Looking further back, IU’s research funding milestones have shown steady growth: $680.2 million in external funding in fiscal year 2019, and $732.9 million in sponsored funding in fiscal year 2021. The School of Medicine has played a pivotal role throughout this growth, receiving over $549 million for medical research in 2020, up from nearly $434 million in 2019. The longevity of this increasing support reflects both public and private backing, including significant private philanthropy that has elevated the university’s research profile.

Indiana University’s ascent past the $1 billion research expenditure mark highlights a belief that research can result in real-world impact. Such expenditure can help drive economic growth, create new jobs, and strengthen communities across the state and beyond.