The Council on Governmental Relations meeting held on October 26, 2017, brought together representatives from leading research institutions and foundations to discuss the evolving partnership between foundations and academic research bodies, particularly in response to shifting trends in research funding. The panel highlighted significant changes since 2010, such as a notable increase in non-classified research expenditures and greater foundation giving, set against a backdrop of declining federal support. This shift has led foundations to play a more prominent role in research funding, often filling gaps left by government retrenchment and influencing key policy areas including indirect cost rates, data sharing, clinical trial management, and compliance practices.
The discussion underscored both opportunities and challenges inherent in foundation-academic collaborations. Participants emphasized the importance of ensuring foundation funding requirements do not impede universities' research agendas, technology commercialization, or the objectives of the foundations themselves. Key concerns relate to low recovery of indirect costs (F&A), unique administrative complexities, and issues surrounding intellectual property and technology transfer. Ongoing efforts aim to streamline processes—such as reporting, proposal formats, and budgeting—reduce administrative burdens, and clarify policies on revenue sharing and commercialization to foster mutually beneficial relationships. Case studies, such as the experiences at Stanford University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, illustrate tangible progress in establishing standardized operating costs, simplifying administrative requirements, and stabilizing intellectual property management, reflecting a broader movement towards transparency, efficiency, and sustainable innovation in research funding partnerships.
