For the first time in in over four decades, the University of Wisconsin is not among the top five universities for research and development spending. The National Science Foundation reports that UW-Madison dropped two places to sixth in the last fiscal year — and that its Research and Development spending dropped by 3.6 percent, while the nation’s top 30 schools had an average increase of 2.7 percent.
“This is a highly competitive environment,” said UW-Madison Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education Marsha Mailick, the university’s top research officer. “The numbers show that our faculty and staff are highly successful, although continued disinvestment by the state is having an impact on our ability to compete.”
Governor Scott Walker’s spokesman Tom Evenson said Madison is among the most “well funded” universities in the nation, and it’s still a “research powerhouse.” He also reiterates that Walker will increase UW spending in the next state budget.