State of New York | Executive Chamber Andrew M. Cuomo | Governor For Immediate Release:  February 11, 2015

Distinction from the National Science Foundation Reflects Innovative University-Industry Partnership Model and New York’s Growing Innovation Economy

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that SUNY Polytechnic Institute has recently been recognized by the National Science Foundation as the top university in the country for business-funded research and development. In achieving this distinction, SUNY Poly surpassed other leading schools like MIT, Duke and Stanford.

The Foundation’s report places SUNY Poly and its Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering atop nearly 900 American colleges and universities in 2013, with $201.6 million in research and development expenditures derived from more than 300 corporate and business partners.

“New York is leading the way in creating opportunities for the academic and business communities to thrive, which is translating to major investments from the private sector in some of the brightest minds and most innovative research projects in the State,” Governor Cuomo said. “This report is proof that New York’s high-tech economy, which is epitomized by the groundbreaking research partnerships established by SUNY Polytechnic and CNSE, continues to draw interest from investors and business leaders around the globe. That fact, coupled with an incredibly skilled workforce, our world-class colleges and universities and the unmatched advantages of START-UP NY, means that New York State is open for business.”

The report is a reflection of New York’s growing 21^st century knowledge economy, which is driven by the successful university-industry partnership model. This model is employed by a number of SUNY Poly-operated innovation hubs across the Upstate region, and is helping to create high-tech jobs in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica and Albany.

Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, SUNY Poly President and CEO, said, “It is a testament to Governor Cuomo, and the corporate partners, faculty, students, and staff of SUNY POLY that in a few short years we have rocketed past our peers, including MIT, Duke and Stanford, in one of the most important indicators of institutional research excellence in American higher education today. This is only the beginning. Moving forward with the combined strength of our statewide facilities, and under the vision and direction of Governor Cuomo, SUNY Poly is poised for even more dramatic growth, superior academic programs, job-creation, and game changing research and discovery.”

The report also shows that while higher education research and development nationally increased by less than half a percent in 2013, SUNY Poly increased 41 percent year-to-year.

The Foundation’s report on business-funded research and development expenses is available  here.

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