Economic Impact of Health Research

Investment: Funding sources for overall research and development (2004)

Source of R&D Funding Investment State Rank
Federal Government $559,200,000 27
Industry $925,400,000 28
Universities $66,600,000 33
Non-profit $26,500,000 26
Other * $24,700,000 33
Total $1,602,300,000 32

* Other represents funding from state and local governments and funding for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers from non-federal sources.

Source: National Science Foundation, National Patterns of R&D Resources , 2006


Economic Impact: Statistics for research-driven health industries (2004)

Industry Employment Annual Salary
Pharmaceutical 4,401 $42,980
Medical Device 9,305 $43,375
Research, Testing, and Laboratories 3,891 $46,100
Overall Private Sector  $31,588

Source: Battelle Memorial Institute and Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Growing the Nation's Biotech Sector: State Bioscience Initiatives 2006


Highlights from local economic impact studies

During FY 2007, 17 companies were launched based on technologies from the University of Utah. These companies advance research, generate jobs and strengthen the state economy.

For every dollar the University of Utah receives from the state, it generates an additional $7 through grants, patient care, tuition, and technology transfer. The University's Research Park has 41 companies that employ 7,000 and contribute $600 million to the state economy.

In FY 2003, spending from the University of Utah and Utah State University generated $1.5 billion in economic activity and supported 24,000 jobs.

According to a report from BIO and Battelle, the Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) Economic Development Initiative (EDI) plans to increase external research funding by $4.9 billion, create 422 companies and 123,000 new jobs, and add $5 billion in tax revenues over an extended period of time.