FY 2016 Appropriation

Initial USTAR funding allowed Utah's Research Universities to recruit exceptional faculty with a productive career history that included successful federally funded innovative research and a history of commercializable inventions.

USTAR continues to support these researchers but also provides support through infrastructure, programs, initiatives and personnel to accelerate commercialization.

Funding History
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $18,518,900 from all sources for University Research Teams. This is a 9.5 percent reduction from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $18,518,900 from the General/Education Funds, a change of 0 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time

USTAR is in the process of developing new performance measures as a result of a legislative audit. For the Universities Research program they are proposing to use Provisional and Non-provisional Patents Filed and the number of Patents Issued. Data for FY 2014 is found below:

Another area USTAR will focus on is commercialization revenue. Commercialization revenues means dividends, realized capital gains, license fees, royalty fees, and other revenues received by a university as a result of commercial applications developed from the USTAR initiative less: the portion of those revenues allocated to the inventor; and expeditures incurred by the university to protect the intellectual property. To date no data is available.

Provisional and Non-provisional Patents Filed

Provisional and Non Provisional Patents Filed

Patents Issued

Patents Issued

At the University of Utah, five areas of expertise consist of 11 different research teams. They break down as follows:

NanoTechnology

  • Nanotechnology Biosensors
  • Wireless Nanosystems
  • Micro and Nano System Integration

Medical Imaging Technology and Brain Medicine

  • Circuits of the Brain
  • Diagnostic Neuroimaging
  • Imaging Technology
  • Nanoscale and Biomedical Photonic Imaging

BioDevice and BioPharma

  • Biomedical Device Innovation

Energy Technology

  • Fossil Energy - Carbon Engineering
  • Alternative and Renewable Energy Center

Digital Media

  • Digital Media

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 62

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $3,500,000 of any remaining amount of the $11,111,300 ongoing General Fund appropriation provided by Item 18, Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014 for Utah Science Technology and Research Governing Authority - University of Utah Research Teams shall not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. Appropriation and Non-lapsing funds may be used, if approved by the USTAR Governing Authority, to transfer the financial obligation of researcher startup funds to the Research University. The Research University shall account on the use of these funds annually and by request of the USTAR Governing Authority.


HB0003: Item 62

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $2,500,000 of any remaining amount of the $7,407,600 ongoing General Fund appropriation provided by Item 19, Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014 for Utah Science Technology and Research Governing Authority - Utah State University Research Teams shall not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. Appropriation and Non-lapsing funds may be used, if approved by the USTAR Governing Authority, to transfer the financial obligation of researcher startup funds to the Research University. The Research University shall account on the use of these funds annually and by request of the USTAR Governing Authority.


The largest portion of research team expenditures goes to salaries and benefits. Current expenses, equipment, and capital outlay also make up a large portion of funding. In FY 2013, The $14.3 million appropriation to U of U research teams breaks down as follows:

NanoTechnology

Nanotechnology Biosensors: $368,108

Wireless Nanosystems: $677,610

Micro and Nano System Integration: $328,562

Medical Imaging Technology and Brain Medicine

Circuits of the Brain: $516,025

Diagnostic Neuroimaging: $1,360,102

Imaging Technology: $757,307

Nanoscale and Biomedical Photonic: $775,081

BioDevice and BioPharma

Biomedical Device: $937,261

Energy Technology

Fossil Energy - Carbon Engineering: $899,048

Alternative and Renewable Energy Center: $420,478

Digital Media

Digital Media: $348,155

Research teams expended about $7.44 million of the University of Utah's research team allocation. The other $6.9 million was spent on the Materials research, Science, and Engineering Center (MERSEC) match of $3.3 million, O&M costs of $2.1 million, the arrhythmia joint venture of $1.2 million, $177,300 of 3T MRI expenses, and and approximately $160,000 for start-up and retrofit expenses.

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.