Research Foundation for the State University of New York

Founded in 1951, the Research Foundation for the State University of New York (RF) exists to serve the State University of New York (SUNY) and to capitalize on the scope, scale and diversity of SUNY as engine of New York state's innovation economy.

The RF supports nearly $1 billion in SUNY research activity annually, providing sponsored programs administration and commercialization support services to SUNY faculty performing research in life sciences and medicine; engineering and nanotechnology; physical sciences and energy; social sciences; and computer and information sciences.

1 History
2 Board of Directors
3 Services
4 Sources of Funds
5 Accountability and Transparency
6 External links

History [edit]

As early as the creation of the State University of New York (SUNY) in 1948, University planners recognized the need to establish a private, corporate entity to provide flexibility in managing sponsored programs and research – something that cannot be accomplished through the various rules and regulations governing state agencies.

The Research Foundation (RF) was established in 1951 to support research, education and public service at SUNY. Since then, the RF adapted its services to meet the changing needs of a SUNY system whose mission, rooted for decades in basic technology, agriculture, and teacher preparation, broadened into graduate study, medical and scientific research and preparation for the professions.

The RF’s role as the organization responsible for managing sponsored programs was formalized when the RF entered into a contractual agreement with SUNY on June 1, 1977. Because conducting sponsored activities was a new mission for most SUNY campuses, early decisions on research and sponsored programs were made by the RF’s central office. As campuses developed research capabilities, the RF decentralized more of its activities to ensure that decisions are made as close as possible to where the research is performed.

Board of Directors [edit]

The Research Foundation (RF) board of directors manages the operations of the corporation in accordance with its stated mission and purpose. The voluntary, independent and self-perpetuating board is composed of researchers, campus and system administrators and representatives of business and industry.

A committee structure facilitates the oversight work of the RF board. The committees and their purposes include:

Audit
Finance
Research, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
Research-Supported Economic Development

Services [edit]

Sponsored Programs Administration [edit]

The Research Foundation (RF) provides services that allow faculty to focus their time on research and instruction. The RF manages grant or sponsored program funds ensuring compliance with university, grant sponsor and government policies and procedures.

Sponsored programs are awarded to faculty at campuses across the state by agencies such as National Institutes of Health (NIH) or National Science Foundation (NSF), or by private sponsors. These are externally funded activities in which a formal written grant, contract, or cooperative agreement is received by the RF.

Sponsored programs administration assists faculty by:

hiring people to work on projects within specified start and end dates
purchasing necessary equipment and supplies for research projects
submitting required financial reports and billing sponsors for payment
developing tools to identify and facilitate collaborative research opportunities
helping to seek out and secure funding for research and grant ideas
prefunding projects prior to sponsor reimbursement
subcontracting to third parties to conduct a portion of a grant program

Fiscal Year 2011 Sponsored Program Fast Facts [edit]

Number of Awards	7,380
Number of Sponsors	1,724
Number of Employees	17,209
Number of Principal Investigators	2,670

Commercialization Support Services [edit]

The Research Foundation (RF) connects business and industry to SUNY faculty, discoveries and facilities to move ideas and inventions to the marketplace for public benefit and economic growth.

marketing invention to potential investors
navigating through the disclosure, patent and licensing process
generating opportunity for business development and job creation

Growth through Collaboration and Innovation [edit]

The Research Foundation (RF) provides State University of New York (SUNY) faculty with tools that support greater interdisciplinary cooperation and collaboration within and across the SUNY research community to drive economic growth.

Find a SUNY Scholar	Connect to a database of more than 21,000 profiles of SUNY faculty experts that leverages the capacity of the SUNY research community and supports SUNY and the Entrepreneurial Century.
Pivot	Search the world's most comprehensive funding resource, with more than 25,000 records worth more than $33 billion.
Scholar Universe	Access over 2 million profiles of researchers from 1,600 institutions throughout the world.
SUNY Assets Map	Connect to SUNY campuses, affiliated incubators, Centers of Advanced Technology, Centers of Excellence, Small Business Development Centers, and collaborative research ventures that are driving investment and economic growth.