Research Foundation
 The
Research
Foundation is a private, nonprofit educational corporation
that administers externally funded contracts and grants
for and on behalf of the State University of New York.
Since its establishment in 1951, the Research Foundation
has facilitated research, education, and public service
at 30 state-operated SUNY locations. The Foundation
carries out its responsibilities pursuant to a 1977
agreement with the University.
Separate Status
The Foundation is separate from the University and
does not receive services provided to New York State
agencies or state appropriation to support corporate
functions. The Foundation is responsible for its own
financial, legal, and business systems, its personnel
policies and employee fringe benefits program, and its
payroll services. Employees of the Foundation are not
indemnified under the New York State Public Officers
Law, are not entitled to representation by the New York
State Attorney General, and do not participate in the
state's retirement and fringe benefits program.
Why a Research Foundation?
The Research Foundation provides the independence
and administrative flexibility to respond quickly to
the special demands of sponsored programs in a manner
that facilitates their scientific or technical execution;
these are needs that could not be as easily accommodated
through state processes.
The demands of sponsored programs include:
-
very short time frames (usually one year or less
to complete the project)
-
need for prefunding expenditures prior to sponsor
reimbursement
-
flexibility to hire project staff upon the project
start date and terminate them upon project completion
-
purchasing supplies, equipment, reimbursement of
travel costs, etc. when needed
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subcontracting to third parties for special services
-
billing sponsors for payment
-
issuing financial reports
Governance
The Foundation is governed by a Board
of Directors, composed of researchers, campus and
system administrators, SUNY Trustees, and representatives
of business and industry. The chancellor of the University
serves as chair of the board ex officio.
Advisory Structure
A Sponsored Programs Advisory Council, composed of
faculty researchers and campus administrators, provides
operating advice to Foundation management.
Campus Operations
Sponsored program functions delegated to the campuses
are conducted under the supervision of Foundation operations
managers who are appointed by the Foundation's Board
on the recommendation of the respective campus presidents.
Facts & Figures
In fiscal year 2005, the Research Foundation managed
approximately $735.8 million in grants from federal
and state governments, corporations and foundations
in support of more than 8,291 campus-based research
and training programs. The Foundation's project-related
and administrative activities provide jobs to 17,665
individuals per year.
Other Services
The Foundation is also engaged in SUNY support activities,
such as:
-
facilitating economic development initiatives
and technology transfer. To date over 700 U.S. Patents
have been issued and royalty income for fiscal year
2005 exceeded $13.5 million.
-
establishing and operating high-technology development
and business Start-Up Suite facilities and research centers
from Buffalo to Long Island.
-
administering agency funds of approximately $100
million annually, which involves providing accounting
and staffing services for University-related organizations.
Agency funds are generated by organizations internal
to the University such as the clinical practice
plans, campus-based foundations, faculty-student
associations, etc. The Foundation is recognized
by formal SUNY policy as one of the appropriate
entities permitted to administer these funds.
-
managing several endowment funds.
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providing information services to other state agency-related
research foundations.
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