The University of South Florida has reached a new milestone in research funding, securing a record $750 million in fiscal year 2025.
The achievement marks an $11.6 million increase over last year and a 37% jump since 2022, positioning USF among the nation’s fastest growing public research institutions.
University leaders say the surge reflects USF’s expanding influence across industries vital to Florida’s future, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, environmental resilience and cybersecurity.
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“The University of South Florida is committed to solving real-world challenges, and our record research funding brings us closer to our goal of $1 billion by 2030,” said USF President Rhea Law. “Our world-class researchers remain at the forefront of discoveries that are improving lives and shaping a better future for our region, state and nation.”
Industry and federal investments
USF reported an all-time high of $284 million in funding from 733 private and industry partners, a 17% increase over the previous year.
Among the most notable collaborations, the USF Institute of Applied Engineering partnered with Washington D.C.-based Rhea Space Activity to provide flight safety testing for a sensor designed for space travel.
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“From on-demand troubleshooting to design for space consulting, our staff enabled rapid technology developers to flourish,” said Taylor Johnston, chief operating officer for the Institute of Applied Engineering.
Federal agencies remain a core driver of the university’s research portfolio, investing $384 million in projects spanning workforce development, AI and cybersecurity.
The National Science Foundation is funding work by Professors Yao Liu and Tempesst Neal of USF’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, who are studying how cyberattacks exploit Wi-Fi localization systems in GPS maps.
In another major project, the National Institutes of Health awarded Professor Yael Bensoussan $4.2 million for research using AI-enabled voice analysis to detect disease.
“We are grateful for the support of our state and federal partners, which empowers our faculty to conduct groundbreaking research that addresses critical challenges in our communities and beyond,” said USF Provost and Executive Vice President Prasant Mohapatra.
State support and sector strength
State and local government funding rose 23% to $82 million, backing initiatives in health care, education and environmental science.
Notable programs include the new Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services in downtown Tampa, the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation, and a statewide literacy initiative led by USF’s Institute for School-Community Partnership.
USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine accounted for the majority of the university’s total funding, with $483 million, representing 64% of USF’s research portfolio.
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The College of Marine Science experienced the fastest growth, with a 27% increase in funding to $23 million.
“This record-breaking year reflects the extraordinary dedication of our researchers and our partnerships across sectors,” said Sylvia Wilson Thomas, vice president for research and innovation. “We are accelerating innovation, translating discoveries into real-world solutions and expanding USF’s impact across sectors critical to Florida’s future.”
Why it matters
With more than 50,000 students and an annual economic impact exceeding $6 billion, USF continues to emerge as one of Florida’s most influential research hubs.
Ranked among the nation’s top 50 public universities by U.S. News & World Report, USF is also a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents.
The university’s growing research base strengthens Tampa Bay’s role in high-tech innovation, health sciences and marine research, fueling collaboration across academia, government, and private enterprise.
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