Study: UTA research drives widespread economic impact

University’s $59 million research spending in 2024 boosted local, state and national economies while supporting student development

2025-02-19

(Press-News.org) University of Texas at Arlington research projects contributed $59 million to the national economy in 2024—an increase of 39% from 2023, according to a new report from the Institute for Research on Innovation and Science (IRIS).

UTA has invested heavily in research infrastructure, purchasing cutting-edge scientific equipment and technology, such as North Texas’ most advanced gene sequencer and a super-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging machine for the Clinical Imaging Research Center. The funds also support collaboration with other research organizations.

UTA worked through 1,144 unique vendor contracts and subcontracts last year.

“The important research coming from UT Arlington faculty and students is not only developing solutions that can transform lives, but it’s also helping drive the economy in North Texas and beyond,” said Kate C. Miller, vice president for research and innovation at UTA. “This report showcases the powerful ripple effect UTA research has throughout our local, regional and national economies.”

In 2024 alone, UTA researchers spent $59 million on research-related goods and services in 354 U.S. counties. Of that $59 million, $29.1 million was spent in Texas. Additionally, the research expenditures helped support more than 1,400 UTA undergraduate and graduate students advancing their education and workforce skills.

The IRIS report includes the latest figures showing the impact of UTA’s research spending on specific industries.

“IRIS reports pull back the curtain on the resources and expertise universities need to fuel discovery and innovation,” IRIS Executive Director Jason Owen-Smith said. “Whether by purchasing equipment, hiring contractors or training early-career researchers, universities are a source of daily economic and social benefits to communities in every congressional district in the country.”

Many of the external research funding awarded to UTA originated as federally sponsored research grants from organizations like the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the U.S. departments of Defense, Transportation, Commerce and Energy. Additional research funding came from philanthropic organizations and state and local governmental organizations.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks in the top five nationally for veterans and their families (Military Times, 2024), is No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and is No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.

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