$150M state investment could bring ‘cutting-edge’ research to KY, Senate leader says
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers is proposing a hefty investment into the state’s research infrastructure.
The legislation, Senate Bill 6, is the funding component of a measure passed during the 2024 session that established an endowment to be administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education. Funding would include federal and state dollars as well as gifts and grants.
While Stivers’ 2024 bill didn’t come with state money for the fund, he is asking for the legislature to put $150 million into the Endowed Research Fund for fiscal year 2027.
“Senate Bill 6 is about creating long-term opportunity” Stivers said. “By investing in high-quality research and fostering collaboration among our universities, we strengthen Kentucky’s economy, attract top-tier talent and ensure our institutions remain competitive nationwide.”
The funding would be distributed across the five consortium research accounts, where each account supports a research project and partnership between Kentucky’s public universities. According to the 2024 law, each research consortium receives funding for a five-year term.
At least two universities would need to collaborate and present a five-year research proposal to apply for funding.
Stivers said research areas could include biomedical, pharmaceutical, engineering or artificial intelligence. But ultimately, it will be up to the Council on Postsecondary Education to review the applications, choose the research areas and award the grants.
“What if multiple universities came together?” Stivers said. “It may be a biomedical program from Louisville that goes to the NASA research component in Morehead to put something on a space station. Is that out of reach? No, it’s not.”
Stivers’ ask comes on the heels of the Kentucky House Republicans releasing their preliminary version of the executive branch budget for the next two years. House Appropriations & Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, previously said that the “major theme” of the budget will be reducing spending.
Still, it’s a long budgeting process ahead, where Senate Republicans have yet to receive the House Budget and make changes.
“I know this is a lot of money, but I have heard multiple entities and universities say this could bring millions of dollars in partnering monies to the state for the purpose of creating cutting-edge research in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and bettering our future,” Stivers said.
