Research expenditures increase 41% despite COVID-19 challenges In the pandemic, University of Vermont research expenditures hit record levels in 2020—up 41% to $191 million—to provide a crucial boost to Vermont’s economy during COVID-19. The total was reported in UVM’s annual 2020 National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development survey and is the largest in the university’s history. It eclipses the previous record of $136 million by a wide margin, and is a key contributor to UVM’s overall $1.3 billion annual economic impact. The expenditures flow from a range of sources, including over 650 research awards in 2020 targeting urgent societal needs across UVM’s two strategic research areas —“healthy societies” and “a healthy environment”—as outlined in the university’s strategic vision, Amplifying Our Impact.