what to include in a research budget

The Research Whisperer

Just like the thesis whisperer – but with more money, how to make a simple research budget.

Every research project needs a budget*.

If you are applying for funding, you must say what you are planning to spend that funding on. More than that, you need to show how spending that money will help you to answer your research question .

So, developing the budget is the perfect time to plan your project clearly . A good budget shows the assessors that you have thought about your research in detail and, if it is done well, it can serve as a great, convincing overview of the project.

Here are five steps to create a simple budget for your research project.

1. List your activities

Make a list of everything that you plan to do in the project, and who is going to do it.

Take your methodology and turn it into a step-by-step plan. Have you said that you will interview 50 people? Write it on your list.

Are you performing statistical analysis on your sample?  Write it down.

Think through the implications of what you are going to do. Do you need to use a Thingatron? Note down that you will need to buy it, install it, and commission it.

What about travel? Write down each trip separately. Be specific. You can’t just go to ‘South East Asia’ to do fieldwork. You need to go to Kuala Lumpur to interview X number of people over Y weeks, then the same again for Singapore and Jakarta.

Your budget list might look like this:

• I’m going to do 10 interviews in Kuala Lumpur; 10 interviews in Singapore; 10 interviews in Jakarta by me.
• I’ll need teaching release for three months for fieldwork.
• I’ll need Flights to KL, Singapore, Jakarta and back to Melbourne.
• I’ll need Accommodation for a month in each place, plus per diem.
• The transcription service will transcribe the 30 interviews.
• I’ll analysis the transcribed results. (No teaching release required – I’ll do it in my meagre research time allowance.)
• I’ll need a Thingatron X32C to do the trials.
• Thing Inc will need to install the Thingatron. (I wonder how long that will take.)
• The research assistant will do three trials a month with the Thingatron.
• I’ll need to hire a research assistant (1 day per week for a year at Level B1.)
• The research assistant will do the statistical analysis of the Thingatron results.
• I’ll do the writing up in my research allowance time.

By the end, you should feel like you have thought through the entire project in detail. You should be able to walk someone else through the project, so grab a critical friend and read the list to them. If they ask questions, write down the answers.

This will help you to get to the level of specificity you need for the next step.

2. Check the rules again

You’ve already read the funding rules, right? If not, go and read them now – I’ll wait right here until you get back.

Once you’ve listed everything you want to do, go back and read the specific rules for budgets again. What is and isn’t allowed? The funding scheme won’t pay for equipment – you’ll need to fund your Thingatron from somewhere else. Cross it off.

Some schemes won’t fund people. Others won’t fund travel. It is important to know what you need for your project. It is just as important to know what you can include in the application that you are writing right now.

Most funding schemes won’t fund infrastructure (like building costs) and other things that aren’t directly related to the project. Some will, though. If they do, you should include overheads (i.e. the general costs that your organisation needs to keep running). This includes the cost of basics like power and lighting; desks and chairs; and cleaners and security staff. It also includes service areas like the university library. Ask your finance officer for help with this. Often, it is a percentage of the overall cost of the project.

If you are hiring people, don’t forget to use the right salary rate and include salary on-costs. These are the extra costs that an organisation has to pay for an employee, but that doesn’t appear in their pay check. This might include things like superannuation, leave loading, insurance, and payroll tax. Once again, your finance officer can help with this.

Your budget list might now look like this:

• 10 interviews in Kuala Lumpur; 10 interviews in Singapore; 10 interviews in Jakarta by me.
• Teaching release for three months for fieldwork.
• Flights to KL, Singapore, Jakarta and back to Melbourne.
• Accommodation for a month in each place, plus per diem, plus travel insurance (rule 3F).
• Transcription of 30 interviews, by the transcription service.
• Analysis of transcribed results, by me. No teaching release required.
• Purchase and install Thingatron X32C, by Thing Inc . Not allowed by rule 3C . Organise access to Thingatron via partner organistion – this is an in-kind contribution to the project.
• Three trials a month with Thingatron, by research assistant.
• Statistical analysis of Thingatron results, by research assistant.
• Research assistant: 1 day per week for a year at Level B1, plus 25.91% salary on-costs.
• Overheads at 125% of total cash request, as per rule 3H.

3. Cost each item

For each item on your list, find a reasonable cost for it . Are you going to interview the fifty people and do the statistical analysis yourself? If so, do you need time release from teaching? How much time? What is your salary for that period of time, or how much will it cost to hire a replacement? Don’t forget any hidden costs, like salary on-costs.

If you aren’t going to do the work yourself, work out how long you need a research assistant for. Be realistic. Work out what level you want to employ them at, and find out how much that costs.

How much is your Thingatron going to cost? Sometimes, you can just look that stuff up on the web. Other times, you’ll need to ring a supplier, particularly if there are delivery and installation costs.

Jump on a travel website and find reasonable costs for travel to Kuala Lumpur and the other places. Find accommodation costs for the period that you are planning to stay, and work out living expenses. Your university, or your government, may have per diem rates for travel like this.

Make a note of where you got each of your estimates from. This will be handy later, when you write the budget justification.

• 10 interviews in Kuala Lumpur; 10 interviews in Singapore; 10 interviews in Jakarta by me (see below for travel costs).
• Teaching release for three months for fieldwork = $25,342 – advice from finance officer.
• Flights to KL ($775), Singapore ($564), Jakarta ($726), Melbourne ($535) – Blue Sky airlines, return economy.
• Accommodation for a month in each place (KL: $3,500; Sing: $4,245; Jak: $2,750 – long stay, three star accommodation as per TripAdviser).
• Per diem for three months (60 days x $125 per day – University travel rules).
• Travel insurance (rule 3F): $145 – University travel insurance calculator .
• Transcription of 30 interviews, by the transcription service: 30 interviews x 60 minutes per interview x $2.75 per minute – Quote from transcription service, accented voices rate.
• Analysis of transcribed results, by me. No teaching release required. (In-kind contribution of university worth $2,112 for one week of my time – advice from finance officer ).
• Purchase and install Thingatron X32C, by Thing Inc . Not allowed by rule 3C. Organise access to Thingatron via partner organistion – this is an in-kind contribution to the project. ($2,435 in-kind – quote from partner organisation, at ‘favoured client’ rate.)
• Research assistant: 1 day per week for a year at Level B1, plus 25.91% salary on-costs. $12,456 – advice from finance officer.

Things are getting messy, but the next step will tidy it up.

4. Put it in a spreadsheet

Some people work naturally in spreadsheets (like Excel). Others don’t. If you don’t like Excel, tough. You are going to be doing research budgets for the rest of your research life.

When you are working with budgets, a spreadsheet is the right tool for the job, so learn to use it! Learn enough to construct a simple budget – adding things up and multiplying things together will get you through most of it. Go and do a course if you have to.

For a start, your spreadsheet will multiply things like 7 days in Kuala Lumpur at $89.52 per day, and it will also add up all of your sub-totals for you.

If your budget doesn’t add up properly (because, for example, you constructed it as a table in Word), two things will happen. First, you will look foolish. Secondly, and more importantly, people will lose confidence in all your other numbers, too. If your total is wrong, they will start to question the validity of the rest of your budget. You don’t want that.

If you are shy of maths, then Excel is your friend. It will do most of the heavy lifting for you.

For this exercise, the trick is to put each number on a new line. Here is how it might look.

5. Justify it

Accompanying every budget is a budget justification. For each item in your budget, you need to answer two questions:

• Why do you need this money?
• Where did you get your figures from?

The budget justification links your budget to your project plan and back again. Everything item in your budget should be listed in your budget justification, so take the list from your budget and paste it into your budget justification.

For each item, give a short paragraph that says why you need it. Refer back to the project plan and expand on what is there. For example, if you have listed a research assistant in your application, this is a perfect opportunity to say what the research assistant will be doing.

Also, for each item, show where you got your figures from. For a research assistant, this might mean talking about the level of responsibility required, so people can understand why you chose the salary level. For a flight, it might be as easy as saying: “Blue Sky airlines economy return flight.”

Here is an example for just one aspect of the budget:

Fieldwork: Kuala Lumpur

Past experience has shown that one month allows enough time to refine and localise interview questions with research partners at University of Malaya, test interview instrument, recruit participants, conduct ten x one-hour interviews with field notes. In addition, the novel methodology will be presented at CONF2015, to be held in Malaysia in February 2015.

Melbourne – Kuala Lumpur economy airfare is based on current Blue Sky Airlines rates. Note that airfares have been kept to a minimum by travelling from country to country, rather than returning to Australia.

1 month accommodation is based on three star, long stay accommodation rates provided by TripAdvisor.

30 days per diem rate is based on standard university rates for South-East Asia.

Pro tip: Use the same nomenclature everywhere. If you list a Thingatron X32C in your budget, then call it a Thingatron X32C in your budget justification and project plan. In an ideal world, someone should be able to flip from the project plan, to the budget and to the budget justification and back again and always know exactly where they are.

• Project plan: “Doing fieldwork in Malaysia? Whereabouts?” Flips to budget.
• Budget: “A month in Kuala Lumpur – OK. Why a month?” Flips to budget justification.
• Budget justification: “Ah, the field work happens at the same time as the conference. Now I get it. So, what are they presenting at the conference?” Flips back to the project description…

So, there you have it: Make a list; check the rules; cost everything; spreadsheet it; and then justify it. Budget done. Good job, team!

This article builds on several previous articles. I have shamelessly stolen from them.

• Constructing your budget – Jonathan O’Donnell.
• What makes a winning budget ? – Jonathan O’Donnell.
• How NOT to pad your budget – Tseen Khoo.
• Conquer the budget, conquer the project – Tseen Khoo.
• Research on a shoestring – Emily Kothe.
• How to make a simple Gantt chart – Jonathan O’Donnell.

* Actually, there are some grant schemes that give you a fixed amount of money, which I think is a really great idea . However, you will still need to work out what you are going to spend the money on, so you will still need a budget at some stage, even if you don’t need it for the application.

Also in the ‘simple grant’ series:

• How to write a simple research methods section .
• How to make a simple Gantt chart .

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29 comments.

This has saved my day!

Happy to help, Malba.

Like Liked by 1 person

[…] you be putting in a bid for funding? Are there costs involved, such as travel or equipment costs? Research Whisperer’s post on research budgets may help you […]

I’ve posted a link to this article of Jonathan’s in the Australasian Research Management Society LinkedIn group as well, as I’m sure lots of other people will want to share this.

Thanks, Miriam.

This is great! Humorous way to talk explain a serious subject and could be helpful in designing budgets for outreach grants, as well. Thanks!

Thanks, Jackie

If you are interested, I have another one on how to do a timeline: https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/gantt-chart/

[…] really useful information regarding budget development can be found on the Research Whisperer Blog here. Any other thoughts and suggestions are welcome – what are your tips to developing a good […]

[…] it gets you to the level of specificity that you need for a detailed methods section. Similarly, working out a budget for your workshops will force you to be specific about how many people will be attending (venue […]

A friend of mine recently commented by e-mail:

I was interested in your blog “How to make a simple research budget”, particularly the statement: “Think through the implications of what you are going to do. Do you need to use a Thingatron? Note down that you will need to buy it, install it, and commission it.”

From my limited experience so far, I’d think you could add:

“Who else is nearby who might share the costs of the Thingatron? If it’s a big capital outlay, and you’re only going to use it to 34% of it’s capacity, sharing can make the new purchase much easier to justify. But how will this fit into your grant? And then it’s got to be maintained – the little old chap who used to just do all that odd mix of electrickery and persuasion to every machine in the lab got retrenched in the last round. You can run it into the ground. But that means you won’t have a reliable, stable Thingatron all ready to run when you apply for the follow-on grant in two years.”

[…] (For more on this process, take a look at How to Write a Simple Project Budget.) […]

[…] Source: How to make a simple research budget […]

This is such a big help! Thank You!

No worries, Claudine. Happy to help.

Would you like to share the link of the article which was wrote about funding rules? I can’t find it. Many thanks!

Hello there – do you mean this post? https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/reading-guidelines

Thank @tseen khoo, very useful tips. I also want to understand more about 3C 3F 3H. What do they stand for? Can you help me find out which posts talk about that. Thank again.

[…] mount up rapidly, even if you are in a remote and developing part of the world. Putting together a half decent budget early on and being aware of funding opportunities can help to avoid financial disaster half way […]

This is so amazing, it really helpful and educative. Happy unread this last week before my proposal was drafted.

Happy to help, Babayomi. Glad you liked it.

really useful! thanks kate

[…] “How to Make a Simple Research Budget,” by Jonathan O’Donnell on The Research Whisperer […]

[…] offering services that ran pretty expensive. until I found this one. It guided me through making a simple budget. The information feels sort of like a university graduate research paper but having analysed […]

[…] Advice on writing research proposals for industry […]

[…] research serves as the bedrock of informed budgeting. Explore the average costs of accommodation, transportation, meals, and activities in your chosen […]

[…] How to make a simple research budget […]

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Top 7 Research Budget Templates with Samples and Examples

Tejas Prasanna

There is no magic formula for creating a research budget. Depending on the kind of research and the potential changes it can bring about, careful planning and allocation is necessary. Budgets can, thus, vary depending on the sponsors, besides other factors. However, every research budget has some essential guidelines. 

Research budgets depend on the project deliverables, timelines, and milestones. The resources required also depend on the scope of the projects and sponsors.

Best Templates for Planning Your Research Budget

Designing a research budget is not easy. You will need to consider the resources required and categorize them according to guidelines to ensure funding is not a problem. The categories may include the project’s necessary supplies and equipment and the wages you must pay your assistants. Research budgets are allocated for a year, but you can also plan for a quarter, depending on the project.

At SlideTeam, we have taken care of all these pain points and designed content-ready presentation templates that address each of these points. You save the time, the resources, and the tedium in having to make these presentations from scratch. 

What is even better is that each of the templates is 100% editable and customizable. The content-ready nature means you get a starting point and a structure to guide your presentation; the editability feature means you can customize the template to audience profile. 

Let’s explore these templates now. 

Template 1 - Impact matrix evaluation research solution budget

This PPT Template is the perfect solution for your research budgeting needs. The matrix suggests what solutions are essential with the help of relevant keys that assign priority levels. Priorities go from low to highest influence with increasing importance. They are color-coded, with white being the lowest and red being the highest influence. For instance, Maintain Awareness and Evaluation are red in many cases, as shown in the slide. So, that means that they bear a significant impact on the research budget. Similarly, Strategic and Budget Planning are color-coded white, which means they don't impact the research budget as much in some cases.

With the impact matrix and heatmap, mapping out your research budget will be a breeze.

Get it now!

Template 2  Half-yearly research and development departmental budget

Research and Development departments can plan the budget required for projects for the two halves of the year using this PPT Template. The presentation template highlights areas for which you will need funding such as research and development, skills, innovation and patenting, and cooperation. You can also list your requirements for each area. For instance, under R&D and skills, you may need funding for medical research, chemical research, etc. Similarly, for innovation and patenting, you may need funding for product innovation and to cover patenting costs. Likewise, cooperation may involve setting up new laboratories and research centers. With this outlined, you can split the budget required for your research project for the two halves of the year.

Download now!

Template 3 - Budget Estimate for Research and Development Project

This presentation template for the budget estimate for your research and development project is apt for arriving at the calculation for the four quarters in a year. You can define and assign tasks as per the requirements of the project and allocate a set budget for each. The tasks may involve conducting market research and competitive analysis or be innovative or developmental. In either case, you can use this template to set a fixed budget for each task in the research project.

Get it today!

Template 4 Clinical Trial Phases with Communication and Budget Research Design for Clinical Trials

Clinical trials involve many phases, and you should let your research associates know about each step. For instance, you could post the information on the company website and provide relevant insights during the pre-trial phase. Similarly, you can offer the welcome letter and training materials during the trial start-up. During the trial, you can send newsletters to your associates, giving them relevant information and other valuable insights. All this requires funding, and you will need to allocate a budget. However, you don't need to worry, as this PPT Preset has you sorted, with dedicated sections for the pre-trial, trial start-up, during-trial, and trial-end phases. It also has communication, insights summary, and budget sections. You can use the budget section in the matrix to allot a budget for each trial phase and each section, including communication and insights. 

Download here!

Template 5  Market research strategy with budget and area

The PPT Template has all the core elements required for your market research strategy, including the budget and area. This slide lets you list your clients, the items, and when to send them. You can also list background information related to your research, the aim and objectives of the project, the areas covered, and the budget.

The presentation template also provides a dedicated space to list your brands and products and a timeline for completing the research.

Template 6 - Determine Budget for Psychology Research Proposal One-Pager Sample Example Document

This presentation template is an easy-to-use tool for determining the budget required for psychology research. With this slide, you can allocate a budget for each area, including diagnostic assessment, training, technology and tools, supplies, travel, and workforce. It is a practical, hands-on template with information required to plan the budget for conducting psychological tests and evaluations. Please note that depending on your geography, taxes might or might not deserve a separate column.  

Template 7 - Budgeting for Product Launch Market Research

Every company needs to conduct market research before launching a new product. The PowerPoint Presentation that you have here can help you plan the budget required for conducting such market research. It includes necessary information, including business and research objectives, priorities, methodologies, and forecasts. The presentation template also has the metrics required for the research, such as improving customer engagement, introducing new products, and increasing market share. For example, to improve customer engagement, you may be looking to improve marketing approaches and gather customer feedback. The methods you may use include conducting marketing mix studies and tests. Similarly, you may want to optimize your social media posts and profiles and conduct A/B tests when introducing new products. Improving your market share may involve analyzing the competition. You may even use this handy template for conducting market research, estimating, and forecasting budgets.

RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT BUSINESS

You can plan your research and the budget required using these templates. Remember that each new product launch has lots of research behind it. When going for a new launch, don’t just research the products and its uses, but also the markets – particularly, your target audience and how they will benefit from your brands. When allocating the budget for your research, don't forget to note your total resources and try to be as cost-effective as possible. You must consider the expected costs that you may incur and use these templates to work out a research budget that fits within your resources.

FAQs on Research Budget

What should be included in a research budget.

Research budgets should include all direct costs, and facilities and administrative costs (F&A). The facilities and administrative expenses are needed to achieve the primary objectives of the research. The project description should state the proposed budget and serve as a financial expression for the research. The idea is to ensure that the budget is comprehensive.

How do you create a research budget?

You can create a simple research budget by following these steps:

• List activities that will help you carry out the research.
• Check the rules for getting the funding required.
• Check all costs involved.
• Lay out the costs using a spreadsheet.
• Justify your budget by asking why and for what you need the money and where you got your figures.

What is the role of budget in research?

A budget can provide a detailed and clear picture of the structure of the research project, not to mention that it also lets you know how well it can be managed. The research project budget usually lets you see whether it will go according to plan and if it is feasible. So, it must be complete and reasonable.

What is the average budget for a research project?

The budget for a research project depends on the type of research and the proposed difference it could make to a field of study. For instance, the average budget for a market research project may vary between $20,000 and $50,000. Similarly, larger scientific research projects may cost millions or even billions of dollars, as in pharmaceuticals.

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• How to Write…

How to Write a Research Budget Plan?

• January 20, 2021
• 7 minutes read

Setting up a research budget plan is really crucial for any Ph.D. candidate or any other researcher. This plan will help you know how expensive your research is.  A research budget ensures you if all the costs are covered or if you need any additional funds to cover the research expenses. In conclusion, this guide will help you to provide a realistic appraisal of the research costs.

The simple guide to the research budget plan

Is there a fund? Is there a funding opportunity within the Faculty? How about the cost of publishing your article in an open-access journal? Some Universities fund publication cost too.

Submit the research proposal budget

When you are planning a research budget there is different kind of costs:

Direct Costs:

This kind of cost is utilized solely to execute the research. like expenses on:

• Research staff members
• Materials & Chemicals
• Travel finance: Attending research-related conferences, seminars, and training travel expenses for the surveys and data collection and Visiting expenses to other institutions.

Indirect Costs

These expenses will be reserved for institutional facilities when conducting your research. For example:

• Institutional laboratory
• Electricity
• Water & Energy usage 
• Telecommunication charges
• Equipment: printer, computer, or other electronic items

Types of  Research Budget

There is 2 kind of budget designs:

Modular Design Budget

• The direct costs are equal to or less than $250,000 annually
• You have research grants

Detailed Design Budget

• Your direct costs are more than $250,000 per annum
• You are applying for grants other than research grant type or its equivalents

Plan your Research Budget

When you find the research question and plan a suitable study design; You can guess the unpredictable charges that can arise while researching. Consider these five main points while planning your research budget:

1-Budget Essentials

Which items will affect your research budget? These are mainly:

• The study design
• Testing procedures
• Sample collection methods
• Research settings. 

2-Instructions of the Funding Agency

Find the introduction of budget rules and limitations by your funding agency. 

3- Categorization of Each Item

You should do a breakdown of the budget item-wise and year-wise with cost calculation. After that, consider the recurring and nonrecurring items that are directly related to your research. 

4-Justification of Each Item

For every enlisted item provide a solid justification for its importance in your research budget. 

5- Review & Verification of the  Research Budget 

Reviewing is the most significant step of your budget plan. Above all, Recalculate the cost of each item and the total items. Remember that too low or high budget will raise suspicion in the mind of your reviewers. So stay in the research budget range.

Budget Justification

The funding agencies require justification for each item of the budget plan. This document is also known as the budget narrative page.  In other words, It reasons the importance of each item. Academictown suggests drawing a three-columned table with:

• The name of the item in the first column
• The quantity and cost in the second column
• A justification statement in the third column

Budget Summary

At last, provide a summarized form of your budget to specify every item with its cost per annum:

• The non-recurring items  will only be specified under the first-year heading as they have a one-time expense.
• The recurring items will be mentioned in both years, along with their costs.

This research budget plan prepares you for all the financial aids you need. The plan will inform you about the expenses of each research item and method. The budget section is the key factor of success or failure for your proposal. For instance, You can manage the items with a spreadsheet. Pointing out and categorizing the direct and indirect costs, at last, will be able to plan and compose a well-scripted budget.

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• v.10(2); Apr-Jun 2019

How to plan and write a budget for research grant proposal?

Medical research can have an enormous positive impact on human health. Health research improves the quality of human lives and society which plays a vital role in social and economic development of the nation. Financial support is crucial for research. However, winning a research grant is a difficult task. A successful grant-winning application requires two key elements: one is an innovative research problem with best probable idea/plan for tackling it and appropriate planning of budget. The aim of the present paper is to give an insight on funding agencies providing funding for health research including traditional Indian medicine (from an Indian perspective) and key points for planning and writing budget section of a grant application.

1. Introduction

Why health science research is important and why should it to be funded? Science and technology innovations and health research can have an enormous impact on human health. They improve public health, quality of human lives, longevity and have made society better [1] , [2] . Healthy humans with better quality of life are crucial for the social and economical development of the nation [3] . Medical research led to the expansion of knowledge about health problems/conditions and their mechanism, risk factors, outcomes of treatments or interventions, preventive measures and proper management. Clinical studies or trials provide important information about the safety and efficacy of a drug/intervention. Innovative basic science research had led to the discovery of new technology, efficient diagnostic and therapeutic devices. So, currently, an effort with multidisciplinary approach is a demand for better understanding of clinical conditions and providing safest health care to the community [2] , [4] .

Whether it is basic or applied, clinical or non-clinical, all research needs financial support. Considering the importance of research in economic growth of a nation, many countries are increasing their budget for research and development in science. A study on impact of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on research and development in science among Asian countries has found that one who spends more on research has more research outcomes in the form of total number of research documents, citations per documents and h-index [5] . About 95% of the NIH (National Institutes of Health, USA), budget goes directly to research awards, programs, and centers; training programs; and research and development contracts [6] . Total expenditure carried out for research in India is too less than USA and China. Percentage of GDP for research and development in India is 0.88%, while South Korea, USA and China have 4.292%, 2.742 and 2.1% respectively [7] .

Owing to the increasing competition among the researchers, especially the young ones, for their academic growth, preparing and planning a winning research proposal becomes very essential. A successful grant-winning application requires two key elements: (1) innovative research problem with best probable idea/plan for tackling it and (2) appropriate planning of budget. The aim of the present paper is to give an insight on funding agencies (from an Indian perspective) and key points for planning and writing budget section of a grant application.

2. What is the purpose of the budget plan in a grant application?

A budget is the quantitative expression of a financial plan for future expenses on the project in a given period of time [8] . Budget plan is a key element of a grant application. It demonstrates the required cost for the proposed project. It is a prediction of expenses and serves a plan for funders on how the organization will operate the project, spend the money in a given set of period and where their money will go. It shows the funders exactly what they can support and also helps the institution and investigating team in management of the project. Moreover, budget plan requires for accountability [9] .

3. Which are the funding agencies that sponsor health research in India?

Various national and international sponsoring agencies have identified health problems of priority for funding a research. Some of the leading funding agencies providing grant for health research including alternative systems of medicine in India are given in Table 1 . State Universities/deemed Universities also have a provision of funding for medical research.

Table 1

List of funding agencies those promote health research.

4. What constitutes a research project budget?

Proforma of the research grant applications and presentation of budget section may vary among the sponsoring agencies. However, major parts of budget plan in the applications of the above mentioned funding agencies are quite similar. The budget section is broadly divided into two categories: direct and indirect costs.

4.1. Direct costs:

These are the costs incurred specifically to carry out a project [10] . Direct costs include expenses towards personnel, materials, equipments, consumables and travel. These particulars are further categorized into recurring and non-recurring expenses on the basis of their occurrence during the study period. A brief description of the sub-sections under direct cost is given below:

4.1.1. Personnel:

Budget for personnel can be mentioned in this section in case human resources are required for the study and as per funding agency guidelines. Salaries with allowances can be budgeted for human resources such as site manager, research assistant, junior research fellow (JRF), senior research fellow (SRF), research associate, technician, data entry operator and attender. Most of the Indian funding agencies do not have a provision for salaries for the principal investigator (PI) and co-investigators (Co-PI). Ministry of AYUSH [11] and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science (RGUHS), Karnataka [12] provide one-time minimal fees for investigators and supporting staff respectively. There is a provision for salaries of investigators in Wellcome trust-DBT India alliance grants [13] .

4.1.2. Recurring expenses:

Recurring expenses are those which are variable and which keep on occurring throughout the entire project duration. Particulars categorized in this category are consumables, chemicals, glasswares, laboratory test charges, diagnostic kits, stationery, prints, photocopies, communication, postage, telephone charges, survey tools, questionnaires, publication charges, reprints, binding etc. Other expenses could be allowances for patients/participants, food charges and physician fees.

4.1.3. Non-recurring expenses:

Non-recurring expenses are those which are one-time in nature or which do not recur at regular intervals. Particulars included in this category are equipments or instruments with its accessories, software's, computer, printer, electrical and electronic items and accessories of the existing instrument in your lab. Percentage of budget allocated for equipment varies among the funding agencies from 25% to 90% of the entire budget. Some of the agencies do not have provision for equipment in budget. Vision Group on Science and Technology allocated their maximum grant (up to 90%) for development of infrastructure of laboratories [14] .

4.1.4. Traveling expenses:

Budget allocated for traveling can be used for attending meetings, conferences, workshops and training programs. Foreign travel is not allowed by any Indian funding agency. Traveling expenses for collection of data, survey and visit to other centers in multicentric study can be budgeted in this sub-section.

4.2. Indirect costs:

These are the costs which cannot be directly attributed to specific expenses of a project, but are required to run a project. It is also termed as overhead charges. Laboratory, electricity, water, library and other facilities are provided by the institution to run a proposed research project. Therefore, a fixed cost (usually) of about 5–15% of the total budget is provisioned as institutional overhead charges which goes to the institution directly. The range may, however, be flexible on the basis of the type of funding agency.

5. Budget justification

Most of the funding agencies require submission of a budget justification with all the items described above. Sometimes it is also called as budget narrative. Explanation of need for each line item in the budget with item-wise and year-wise breakdown has to be provided. Quantification of total costs of each line-item and document cost calculation should be done. When writing a budget justification, it is important to follow the same order as that in an itemized budget. For example, if equipment such as color doppler is required, then justify the need of a device with respect to the proposed methodology of the study. Similarly, for non-recurring expenses, breakdown the consumables item-wise and year-wise with its cost and calculation according to the protocol of the study and justify accordingly.

6. Budget summary

An item-wise and year wise summary of the total budget is usually required in most of the applications. Budget summary outlines the proposed grant and often (most of the format) appears at the beginning of the proposal. It should always be prepared at the end, after the grant proposal has been completely developed. A sample budget summary (as an example) for a proposed study for the duration of three years is shown in Table 2 . In the personnel section, a research fellow salary with allowances is budgeted year-wise. The salary of the research fellow for the first and second year is Rs. 2,30,000 per year (JRF) with an enhancement to Rs 2, 59,000 for the third year (SRF) as per the guidelines of the funding agency. As non-recurring expenses are one time in nature, a budget for equipment was budgeted only for the first year. Under the section of recurring expenses, more budgets are allocated in the second year for consumables because recruitment of subjects in large number will be done during the second year of the proposed study. Similarly, expenses toward travel, investigator fee and other miscellaneous costs year-wise have been budgeted. The emoluments and guidelines on service conditions for research personnel employed in research project by ICMR has been given in reference section [15] , [16] .

Table 2

Sample budget summary (year wise).

7. How to plan a simple research budget?

Planning of the research budget begins with an innovative research question, objectives and design of the study. Before starting to write a budget plan, it is essential to understand the expectations of funding agencies, University/Institute and the team of researchers. It is imperative to keep in mind that the research proposal will be reviewed by both scientific and financial (non-scientific) experts. Hence, the proposal should be prepared in such a way that it can be easily understood by even non-scientific experts.

Firstly, a list of what is essential and would add value for research such as focus of research, primary and secondary outcomes of the study, the source of the sample, study setting, sample design and sample size, techniques used to collect data, method of data analysis and available resources should be made [17] .

Secondly, the instructions, format of the application and rules of the funding agency should be read thoroughly. Budget specifications, limitations of recurring and non-recurring costs, and necessity of budget justification with cost breakdown should be checked. Note that one should not deviate or modify the proforma of the funding agency.

Thirdly, a list of items should be made and categorized into recurring and non-recurring expenses. Breakdown of the budget into item-wise and year-wise with cost calculation should be done. It should be ensured that costs are reasonable, allowable and related to the research proposal, so that the budget appears realistic. Travel expenses should be calculated as per the rules of the funding agency.

Fourthly, item-wise and year-wise justification of the requirement in a same sequence of format should be provided. A well-justified budget can enhance the evaluation of the research proposal by reviewers and funding body.

The last most important part is to review the budget and verify the costs and calculation. It is better, if other research team members can review the budget plan and re-calculate the costs thoroughly. Remember, too high budget and too low budget with respect to the research proposal are suspicious and chances of receiving a grant are less.

Sources of funding

Conflict of interest.

Peer review under responsibility of Transdisciplinary University, Bangalore.

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• Writing Tips

How to Outline Expenses/Budget in Your Dissertation Plan

4-minute read

• 9th May 2023

When drafting your dissertation outline plan , there’s a lot to consider. One crucial section not to overlook is your budget and expenses. A comprehensive budget shows that you have thought through your study thoroughly and are prepared to execute your research plan successfully. Here, we’ll go through the steps you’ll need to take to craft a budget, including a few examples of common budget structures.

Steps to Take to Create Your Budget

1. consult your adviser, committee members, and funding sources for guidelines.

The source or sources responsible for funding your dissertation research will likely have guidelines on what is and isn’t a billable expense. Before defining your projected costs, check your funding organization’s specifications on allowable expenses. It can also help to speak with your adviser and potentially other dissertation committee members about the specifics and general guidelines to ensure everyone’s on the same page when it comes to your anticipated costs.

2. List All of the Costs Associated With Implementing Your Desired Dissertation Plan

Depending on your type of research, setting, and particular project, a wide range of items might be appropriate to add to your budget. Go through your dissertation project plan from beginning to end and list all of the required tasks, along with who will complete them, to ensure you don’t miss any expenses. Although the list below is not comprehensive, and your items might vary depending on your research project, some standard costs to consider are:

●  Salaries and wages for all personnel involved in the project (including time and other resources that will be expected from your adviser and committee members).

●  Equipment and lab fees.

●  Recruitment costs for study participants.

●  Participant compensation.

●  Software costs for data collection, storage, and analysis.

●  Office supplies (including any printing of recruitment materials, study information pamphlets, or conference posters).

●  Travel (including transport to and from field sites, conference registration fees, transportation, lodging, and meals).

●  Journal or conference submission and publication fees for papers created from your dissertation research.

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●  Costs involved with writing, editing, and proofreading services for your dissertation .

Additionally, while it’s advisable to work within the constructs of your funding sources, don’t sell your research study short. After writing down all of the essential costs needed to complete your research plan, ask yourself how you would use any further financial backing. Could you make a good argument as to why supplementary funding would add significant value to your work? If so, consider adding these line items to your budget as well. If you have to negotiate your budget, you can always circle back and reconsider these extra items.

3. Construct Your Budget

The institution overseeing your dissertation project might require your budget to be submitted in a specified structure or template. However, if this isn’t the case, there are several possible approaches to organizing and presenting it – just make sure to check with your institution for any specific guidelines or requirements.

A standard request is to list your expenses by grouping them into direct costs , such as equipment, travel, and wages for people working on the project, and indirect costs , which are expenses that aren’t solely associated with your research project, such as general administration, utilities, and the use of shared services or spaces like libraries. It’s also common to arrange your direct and indirect costs into a Line-Item Budget (LIB) , which simply means that you list each of your projected expenses as a line in your budget.

There are many types of budget templates available for free online. Some designs will include a column to provide more details about each item, while other approaches will list the justifications for the expenses at the end. If you have multiple funding sources, it may be helpful to have columns for each funder and the percentage or amount of each expense they will be expected to be responsible for. Some templates will calculate the total costs for you , but no matter which presentation method you choose, make sure your costs are entered and totaled correctly.

Although the individual items will vary from project to project, these three steps will lead you on your way to preparing a persuasive proposal budget:

●  Consult your adviser, committee members, and funding sources for guidelines.

●  List all the costs associated with implementing your desired dissertation plan (including the items you hope to get funded if they are justifiable).

●  Construct your budget with direct and indirect costs with justifications for each using an appropriate template and confirm your expenses are calculated correctly.

We wish you the best of luck with your budget writing and dissertation proposal. For more help, check out our comprehensive Dissertation Writing Guide . And if you’re interested in using our services here at Proofed, you can try them for free .

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• Develop a research budget
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On this page:

Basic components of a research budget, two models of budget development, other factors affecting your budget.

• Additional Resources

Budgets should provide the sponsor with an accurate assessment of all cost items and cost amounts that are deemed necessary and reasonable to carry out your project. They should be based upon your description or the statement of work. Budget justification provides more in-depth detail and reason for each cost and is often considered by reviewers as a good indicator of the feasibility of the research.

A research budget contains both direct costs and indirect costs (overhead), but the level of detail varies from sponsor to sponsor. The first step in developing a budget is to carefully read the guidelines of the funding opportunity being pursued.

There is no magic formula available for developing a budget but there are some basic steps to follow in order to develop an accurate budget:

• Define project tasks, timelines and milestones and determine the actual resources and costs required to complete these. Consider whether contingencies are needed (and confirm they are eligible expenses).
• Determine the eligible expense categories and maximum amount allowed by the sponsor. Adjust scope of the project to make sure proposed activities fit within the allowance.
• Categorize these costs (e.g., salaries, supplies, equipment…) per year, in some cases by quarter.
• Ensure that project scope and budget match. Include indirect costs of research as permitted by sponsor and the University policy.  

The examples below developed by the University of British Columbia demonstrate two ways to include indirect costs in your budget.

• Price model:  Indirect cost is built into each budget line item.
• Cost model:  Indirect cost of research is presented as a separate line item.

Unless the sponsor specifies in writing that they require the indirect costs of research to be presented as a separate line item (Cost Model), the indirect cost should be built into each budget line item (Price Model). Indirect costs are normally included in the price of goods and services worldwide.

For example, you are developing a budget for a funding opportunity with an indirect cost rate of 25%. Your direct costs are $201,000 broken down by expense categories shown in the  second column of the table below. The third and fourth colums present the two ways you can include the 25% overhead in your budget using the Price Model or the Cost Model, respectively:

In-kind and cash contributions, like other costs to the sponsored project, must be eligible and must be treated in a consistent and uniform manner in proposal preparation and in financial reporting.

Cash contributions

Cash contributions are actual cash transactions that can be documented in the accounting system. Examples of cash contributions include:

• allocation of compensated faculty and staff time to projects, or
• the purchasing of equipment by the university or other eligible sponsor for the benefit of the project.

In-kind contributions

In-kind contributions are both non-monetary or cash equivalent resources that can be given a cash value, such as goods and/or services in support of a research project or proposal. It is challenging to report on in-kind contribution, please make sure the numbers you use are well supported, consistent and easy to quantitate.

Examples of an in-kind contribution may include:

• Access to unique database or information
• Professional, analytical, and other donated services
• Employee salaries including benefits for time allocated to the project
• Study materials, technologies, or components
• Patents and licenses for use
• Use of facilities (e.g., lab or meeting spaces)
• Partner organization time spent participating in the project
• Eligible infrastructure items

Matching on sponsored projects

Some sponsored projects require the university and/or a third party to contribute a portion of the project costs–this contribution is known as matching.

Matching requirements may be in the form of an actual cash expenditure of funds or may be an “in-kind” match. For example:

• A 1:1 match would require $100 of a third-party matching for every $100 received from an agency.
• A 30% match would mean that of a total budget of $100, the agency would provide $70 and a third party would need to match $30.

Examples of agency programs that include some form of matching from a third party are:

• NSERC Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• NSERC Idea to Innovation Grants
• SSHRC Partnership Grants
• CIHR Industry Partnered Collaborative Research Program, and
• CIHR Proof of Principle Grants  

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Creating a Budget

In general, while your research proposal outlines the academic significance of your study, the budget and budget narrative show that you have an understanding of what it will cost for you to be able to perform this research. Your proposed budget should identify all the expenses that are necessary and reasonable for the success of your project—no more and no less. The Office of Undergraduate Research understands that estimates, by definition, are imprecise, yet we encourage students applying for funding to research all aspects of their budgets with honest diligence.

If your research requires you to be in the field or in another city, state, or country, travel expenses may include transportation (airline, train, taxi, etc.), passport and visa fees, as well as fees for any vaccinations you may need to travel. Be sure to include anticipated major incidental expenses, such as printing, copying, fees for accessing archives, etc.

Please note that our funding restrictions prevent us from providing support for lab materials, equipment, software, hardware, etc.

Keep in mind these tips:

Convert all foreign currency figures to U.S. dollars.

Round all figures to whole dollars.

Make sure your budget and your proposal are consistent.

Identify areas where you are making efforts to save money!

Browse through these sample budgets for a better idea of how to outline your expenses and contact us if you have questions!

Sample Budget 1

Sample Budget 2

Sample Budget 3

Sample Budget 4

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Sample Budget Breakdown for Research Proposals

Rachel r.n..

• July 10, 2024
• How to Guides

When you’re putting together a research proposal, one of the most important parts is the budget. It’s like planning how to spend your allowance, but for a big project!

This guide will help you understand how to break down your research budget into different parts, making it easier for you to plan and for others to understand where the money will go.

What You'll Learn

Why is a Budget Breakdown Important?

Before we dive into the details, let’s talk about why having a clear budget is so crucial:

• Shows you’ve thought things through: A well-planned budget tells people you’ve really considered what you need for your research.
• Helps you stay on track: Once your project starts, a good budget helps you keep an eye on your spending.
• Makes it easier to get funding: When people or organizations see a clear, detailed budget, they’re more likely to give you money for your research.
• Helps others understand your needs: A breakdown helps explain why you need certain amounts of money for different parts of your project.

Now, let’s look at the main parts of a research budget:

• Personnel Costs

This is often the biggest chunk of your budget . It covers the money you’ll pay to people working on the project.

Subheadings:

a) Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigators

• This is you (if you’re leading the project) and any other main researchers.
• Include how much of their time (usually as a percentage) will be spent on the project.
• Calculate their salary for that time.

Example: Dr. Jane Smith (PI) – 30% time for 12 months Annual salary: $80,000 Budget: 30% of $80,000 = $24,000

b) Research Assistants

• These are people who help with various tasks like data collection or analysis.
• Include their hourly rate and estimated hours.

Example: Research Assistant – $20/hour, 20 hours/week for 40 weeks Budget: $20 x 20 x 40 = $16,000

c) Consultants

• Experts you might need to hire for specific tasks.
• Include their fee and estimated time needed.

Example: Statistical Consultant – $100/hour, estimated 20 hours Budget: $100 x 20 = $2,000

d) Student Support

• If you’re involving students in your research, include their stipends or wages.

Example: Graduate Student Assistant – $1,500/month for 9 months Budget: $1,500 x 9 = $13,500

• Equipment and Supplies

This covers all the physical items you need to buy for your research.

a) Major Equipment

• Big, expensive items that are crucial for your research.
• Include the full cost, including any shipping or installation fees.

Example: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Machine Cost: $30,000 (including shipping and installation)

b) Minor Equipment

• Smaller items that cost less but are still important.

Example: Digital scales (2) – $500 each Budget: $500 x 2 = $1,000

c) Consumables

• Things you’ll use up during your research.
• Estimate how much you’ll need for the whole project.

Example: Lab chemicals – $2,000 Glassware – $500 Office supplies – $300 Total: $2,800

d) Software

• Any special computer programs you need to buy.

Example: Statistical analysis software license – $1,200/year Budget for 2-year project: $1,200 x 2 = $2,400

If your research involves trips to collect data, attend conferences, or meet with collaborators, include these costs.

a) Field Work

• Trips to collect data or conduct experiments outside your usual workplace.
• Include transportation, accommodation, and daily expenses (per diem).

Example: Field trip to Amazon rainforest:

• Flights: $1,500
• Accommodation: $100/night for 14 nights = $1,400
• Per diem: $50/day for 14 days = $700 Total: $3,600

b) Conferences

• Costs for attending meetings to present your research.
• Include registration fees, travel, accommodation, and per diem.

Example: Annual Ecology Conference:

• Registration: $500
• Flights: $400
• Hotel: $150/night for 3 nights = $450
• Per diem: $75/day for 4 days = $300 Total: $1,650

c) Collaboration Meetings

• Costs for meeting with research partners at other institutions.

Example: Visit to partner lab in Germany:

• Flights: $800
• Accommodation: $120/night for 5 nights = $600
• Per diem: $70/day for 6 days = $420 Total: $1,820
• Facility Costs

If you need to use special facilities or rent space for your research, include these costs.

a) Laboratory Space

• Fees for using lab space, if it’s not provided by your institution.

Example: Lab rental at local research center: $500/month for 12 months = $6,000

b) Specialized Facilities

• Costs for using equipment or spaces you don’t have regular access to.

Example: Use of Electron Microscope facility: $200/hour, estimated 20 hours needed Budget: $200 x 20 = $4,000

c) Field Station Fees

• Costs for using research stations in remote locations.

Example: Mountain Research Station fee: $100/day for 30 days = $3,000

• Participant Costs

If your research involves human subjects, you might need to pay them or cover their expenses.

a) Participant Compensation

• Payment for people’s time in participating in your study.

Example: 100 participants at $20 each Budget: 100 x $20 = $2,000

b) Participant Travel Reimbursement

• Covering transportation costs for participants to come to your research site.

Example: Estimated average travel cost per participant: $15 100 participants Budget: 100 x $15 = $1,500

c) Refreshments

• If you’re providing snacks or meals during long study sessions.

Example: Snacks and drinks for 100 participants at $5 each Budget: 100 x $5 = $500

• Publication and Dissemination

These are costs related to sharing your research results.

a) Open Access Publication Fees

• Costs for making your research freely available online.

Example: Estimated fee for open access journal: $2,500

b) Printing Costs

• For creating posters or handouts for conferences.

Example: 50 color posters at $30 each Budget: 50 x $30 = $1,500

c) Website Development

• If you plan to create a website to share your research.

Example: Website design and hosting for 2 years: $1,000

• Indirect Costs

These are overhead costs that your institution might charge for managing your grant.

a) Facilities and Administration (F&A) Costs

• A percentage of your total direct costs that goes to your institution.
• This rate varies by institution and funding agency.

Example: If your total direct costs are $100,000 and your institution’s F&A rate is 52%: Indirect costs: $100,000 x 52% = $52,000

b) Cost Sharing

• Some grants require your institution to contribute a portion of the costs.
• This isn’t a cost you include in your budget request, but you need to show it’s covered.

Example: If the grant requires 10% cost sharing on a $100,000 project: Cost sharing amount: $100,000 x 10% = $10,000 (to be provided by your institution)

• Miscellaneous Costs

This category covers any other expenses that don’t fit neatly into the above categories.

a) Insurance

• Special insurance you might need for field work or equipment.

Example: Field work insurance for 3 researchers for 2 weeks: $600

b) Shipping

• Costs for sending equipment or samples.

Example: Estimated shipping costs for samples: $800

c) Communication

• Phone or internet costs specifically for the project.

Example: Satellite phone rental for remote fieldwork: $10/day for 30 days = $300

• Contingency

It’s wise to include a small amount for unexpected expenses.

Example: 5% of total direct costs for contingency

If your total direct costs are $100,000: Contingency: $100,000 x 5% = $5,000

Putting It All Together

Once you’ve calculated all these parts, add them up to get your total budget. Here’s a simplified example:

• Personnel Costs: $55,500
• Equipment and Supplies: $37,400
• Travel: $7,070
• Facility Costs: $13,000
• Participant Costs: $4,000
• Publication and Dissemination: $5,000
• Indirect Costs: $52,000
• Miscellaneous Costs: $1,700
• Contingency: $5,000

Total Budget: $180,670

Remember, every research project is different, so your budget might not need all these categories, or it might need additional ones. The key is to think carefully about everything your research will require and account for it in your budget.

Tips for Creating Your Budget

• Be realistic: Don’t underestimate costs, but don’t pad them either.
• Do your research: Get real quotes for big expenses.
• Explain your calculations: In a separate budget justification, show how you arrived at each number.
• Follow the rules: Different funding agencies have different budget guidelines. Make sure you follow them.
• Get help: Your institution’s research office can often help with budgeting.
• Plan for the entire project: Think about costs that might come up in later stages of your research.
• Be specific: Instead of a large “misc” category, try to break costs down into specific items.
• Consider inflation: For multi-year projects, factor in potential cost increases.
• Double-check your math: Small errors can make a big difference!
• Align with your proposal: Make sure your budget matches the activities you describe in your research plan.

Related Articles

Mastering the Art of Writing: How to Write a Grant Proposal

How to Write a Comprehensive PhD Research Proposal in Sociology

Sample Proposal Budget Example

SAMPLE PROJECT PROPOSAL AND BUDGET

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What if I’m not sure about exact costs? A: It’s okay to estimate, but be sure to explain your basis for the estimate in your budget justification. Use phrases like “based on current market prices” or “average of three vendor quotes.”

Q2: Can I include my own salary in the budget? A: This depends on your situation and the funding agency’s rules. In many cases, yes, especially if you’re not already fully funded for the time you’ll spend on this project. Always check the specific guidelines for the grant you’re applying to.

Q3: What’s the difference between direct and indirect costs? A: Direct costs are expenses specifically for your project, like salaries, equipment, or travel. Indirect costs (also called overhead or Facilities and Administrative costs) are expenses that benefit your project but also other activities at your institution, like building maintenance or administrative support.

Q4: Should I ask for the maximum amount allowed by the grant? A: Not necessarily. Ask for what you genuinely need to complete your project successfully. Inflating your budget unnecessarily can hurt your chances of getting funded.

Q5: What if I need to make changes to my budget after it’s approved? A: Most funding agencies allow some flexibility, but major changes usually require approval. Always communicate with your program officer if you need to make significant changes.

Q6: Do I need to include quotes or price lists with my budget? A: It’s not usually required in the initial proposal, but having this documentation can be helpful if you’re asked to justify your costs. For very expensive items, including a quote can strengthen your proposal.

Q7: How detailed should my budget be? A: Your main budget should be a clear summary, but you should be prepared to provide a more detailed breakdown if asked. Many proposals require a separate budget justification document where you can provide more detail.

Q8: What if I forget something in my budget? A: That’s why it’s good to include a contingency amount. If you realize you’ve forgotten something major before submitting, see if you can revise your budget. If it’s after submission or approval, talk to your program officer about options.

Q9: Should I round my numbers? A: For smaller amounts, rounding to the nearest dollar is fine. For larger amounts, you might round to the nearest $10 or $100. The key is to be consistent and make your budget easy to read.

Q10: How do I handle in-kind contributions or cost sharing? A: These should be mentioned in your proposal and budget justification, but they’re usually not included in the main budget you’re requesting from the funding agency. They show additional support for your project.

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Research Budget

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Research is highly necessary for a business simply because it helps the company understand the customers, competitors, and the market, in general. The data that the project’s processes bring can make way for the development of company operations. However, all these benefits do not come cheap. Most companies, especially the startups, would even submit proposals   to request grants from federal agencies, loans from banks, and investments from other fund sources. To successfully acquire financial assistance for their quantitative   or qualitative research , it is necessary to produce a research budget document. If by any chance, you are planning to create such a document, our article and variety of examples can assist you! Check them out below!

11+ Research Budget Examples

1. research budget template.

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2. Research Project Budget Template

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4. Research Budget Proposal

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5. Marketing Research Budget

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7. Sample Research Budget

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10. Simple Research Budget Template

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What Is a Research Budget?

A research budget is the breakdown of the estimated income and expenses of a certain research project. According to MyMoneyCoach, budgeting lets individuals and organizations ascertain whether the financial resources are enough to complete a project . Additionally, if the said resources fall short, the process will help them prioritize the much-needed things or activities. Often, people use the term budgets for estimates . Unarguably, most of their elements are alike. The only difference is that budgets highlight how much money is up for spending. At the same time, estimates are predictions of how much money is needed to buy certain things or perform certain activities.

Research: Expensive or Not?

Some entrepreneurs do not know how advantageous research is for their businesses. Upon hearing about business research, the most common question that comes to their mind is whether such an undertaking is expensive or not. Sad to say, the answer is indefinite because its cost will vary depending on your expertise about the subject.

Firms who are not confident enough of their knowledge and experience in business research can hire research companies that can do the job for them. Doing so will approximately cost them USD 1,500 to $30,000, depending on how big the job is. On the contrary, corporate entities who are knowledgeable about the idea of business research can do it by themselves with a little guidance of online sources and other sorts of reference. The cost for it can go down from USD 100 up to USD 5,000.

How To Create a Research Budget

Considering that budgeting involves numbers and figures, you have to be delicate not just to them but also to the itemized entries. Moreover, each of its sections has to comply with the standards to ensure its completeness. By our own research, we are confident that our outline of the necessary guidelines below can help you in making your research budget without any hassle.

1. Describe Research Goals and Objectives

Generally, the research’s main function is to help improve an organization’s workplace operation and the company’s market standing. To effectively set and acquire the necessities for the undertaking, you need to have a better understanding of its specific goals and objectives . Hence, you have to describe them first and foremost.

2. Set the Research Methodology

There are many ways to gather and interpret data for your research. Each of them requires specific materials and equipment, which obviously have a monetary value. Most researchers commonly utilize participant observation, survey methodology , in-person interviews , focus groups, experimental research , secondary data analysis, and mixed methods as their techniques.

3. Specify Target Audience

The target audience is a good basis for your budget . Its volume and demographic can determine how much money you will need for the provision of research materials, such as survey questionnaires and survey forms . For example, if you’re targeting an audience of 10 to 15 people aged 50 to 60, the cost is surely expensive. Most of these people are probably in a nursing home. Aside from preparing them tokens for their participation, you also have to spend some dimes getting into the nursing home, like transportation and the creation of permission slips .

4. Calculate Income

After specifying your target audience, calculate your research’s overall income. Include in your calculations the allotment of your research’s financial assistance. Also, you have to indicate where these funds come from. The total income will be the very foundation of your budget .

5. Reckon Expenditures

Now that you have your income already set, create a list of all the items that you need to spend on. With your income as your basis, distribute the funds according to your priorities to ensure the inclusion of important things or activities, while delaying or eliminating the unnecessary ones.

Once you have successfully set every detail, don’t forget to review each of them one more time. With money at stake, misspellings, miscalculations, and other faults should have no room in your budget . By reviewing your budget before finalizing, you allow yourself to make your data accurate, which is a very crucial quality for research.

What do you mean by the direct and indirect costs of budgeting?

Direct costs refer to the expenses to produce goods or provide services, while indirect costs describe the necessary expenditures for the continuity of business operations.

What are some of the biggest disadvantages of business research?

1. Just like any other type of research, business research is time-consuming.

2. Due to the fast-changing markets, the results of business research can easily become out of date.

3. The business research’s respondents have chances of becoming biased, putting your entire project at risk of having inaccurate information.

What are the phases of budgeting?

Budgeting has five phases. They include preparation and formulation, approval, execution, revision, and control.

American filmmaker, anthropologist, and author Zora Neale Hurston once said, “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose”, and she is right. Through it, we unravel things we never knew we had, whether they’re good news or bad ones. Either way, the discovery of these things can lead to improvement. Funding research is, absolutely, a good idea. However, businesses can only give so much. Some don’t even have anything to offer at all, risking themselves to rely on loans. Because of these facts, researchers have to learn the process of budgeting, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

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• Grants and Funding

How to Plan and Write a Budget for Research Grant Proposal

To be a successful candidate for a research grant, you need perfect budget formulation and justification. Here, we will help you plan the research budget for your grant proposal and give you handy tips to transform it into a convincible form.

Budget as a Skeletal Support

Your budget is the skeleton of your grant proposal. It provides the estimated finance your research needs to be completed in a particular time range. It also gives the funders an exact knowledge about where their funds will be used and how will they be financed ( Asya, 2008 ). It is your responsibility to postulate clearly how you will manage the funds if granted. An excellent budget plan will compel your funders to assume that you have thought about every financial detail concerning your project.

Specific Terminologies to Know Beforehand

Certain wordings are preferred to convey your research budget information better. It is important to familiarize with them before constructing the budget section of the proposals. The lexis includes:

Direct Costs

These are the expenses that are utilized solely for executing your research. For example, expenses on your research staff members, tools, materials, and travel finance.

Facilities & Administrative Costs (Indirect Costs)

These are the overhead charges reserved for institutional facilities that you avail yourself while conducting your research. For example, institutional laboratory, electricity, and water usage costs.

Fringe Benefits

These are the additional benefits provided to the personnel, along with their basic salaries. Every institution has its own set of fringe benefits rates.

Research Consortium

It is a group of institutions that apply for a grant together as one. They have reached a grant agreement, and one of the institutions represents them all. The budget is divided between them.

Types of Budget

There are two budget designs used in the NIH grant applications. Specific points will decide the type of budget design form you have to use for your application. These are:

Modular Design Budget

Your budget design is considered modular when your research fulfills the following criteria:

• Your direct costs are equal to or less than $250,000 annually
• You are applying for research grants or their equivalents
• Your institution is located in the United States

Detailed Design Budget

Your budget design should be in detailed form if your research project fulfills any of the below-mentioned criteria:

• Your direct costs are more than $250,000 per annum
• You are applying for grants other than research grant type or its equivalents
• Your institution is situated outside the United States

For the modular design, you have to fill out the PHS 398 modular budget application form, and for the detailed design budget, you have to use the R & R detailed budget application form.

Planning your Budget

Your budget planning starts when you find the research question and decide on a suitable study design. You should also be able to guess the unpredictable charges that can arise while conducting your research ( Sudheesh, Devika & Nethra, 2016 ). There are five main points to keep in mind while planning your research budget:

Pin-point the Budget Essentials

Think about all the things that will affect your research budget. These are mainly the study design, testing procedures, sample collection methods, and research settings. The more complicated and unique these essentials will be, the higher will be your budget requirements. Also, observe the already present resources and will they benefit your research budget.

Follow the Instructions of the Funding Agency

The next point to consider while planning your budget is to abide by the budget rules and limitations of your particular funding agency. Read each instruction carefully and remember not to deviate from it. It is expected of you to provide the exact list of items necessary for your project.

Categorization of Each Item

Thirdly, a breakdown of each item into its related category should be made along with its cost.  A breakdown of the budget item-wise and year-wise with cost calculation should be done. Point out the recurring and nonrecurring items that are directly related to your research. All this planning is done beforehand to ensure proper budget management.

Justification of Each Item

For every enlisted item, you should be able to provide a solid justification for its importance in your research. Only a well-justified budget document can win the confidence of the peer reviewers.

Review & Verification of the Budget Items

Reviewing is the most significant step for every document or proposal. You can ask your team members to review your budget document for you. Also, recalculate the cost of each item and the total items combined cost per annum. Keep in mind that too low or high budget will only raise suspicion in the mind of your reviewers. So, make sure you plan a research budget range, not more than the maximum limit set by your funding agency ( Michael et al., 2019 ).

Scripting your Budget onto the Grant Application

Projecting your finances into your application requires skills. When writing, we primarily divide our budget into two sub-sections. These include:

As mentioned before, these are the direct expenses on which your research is largely dependent. So, firstly, give the heading of direct costs and then further give the following subheadings with explanations.

Personnel Involved

If your research project involves resource team members, here is where you have to mention them. Your resource team includes the technicians, laboratory attendants, site caretakers, data entry personnel, junior researchers, and the senior researcher involved. Specify their allowances and salaries in an organized manner.

Recurring Expenditure

These expenses occur regularly and yet cannot be avoided. These include equipment usage, laboratory-conducted diagnostic tests, telecommunication charges, chemicals, and any other essential items. Fees for human subjects involved in your research are also stated here.

Non-recurring Expenditure

These are the costs of items for which you have to pay one-time charges, and then their use is free. These include buying charges for the printer, computer, or other electronic items. Once you buy them, they are charge-free. Thus, you have to specify all the non-recurring charges in your budget form.

Traveling Expenditure

In this subheading, specify the amount spent on your traveling for research purposes. Separately mention your traveling costs for attending research-related conferences, seminars, and training. Also, mention the travel expenses for the surveys and data collection. Visiting expenses to other institutions for the sake of a research study can also be mentioned here.

Indirect Costs

The second sub-section is indirect expenditure. It includes facilities that are indirectly related to your research project. These can be library facilities, electricity, and water usage for your experiments and test conduction. These are also called overhead charges that are paid specifically to the institution for providing such facilities ( Ahmed & Abdullah, 2017 ).

Budget Overview

In the final paragraph, write a short finalizing note relating your budget outlining the main point. This should be a 4 to 5-lined paragraph.

Budget Justification

Most of the funding agencies separately require justification for each item that you specified in your above-mentioned budget form. This document is also known as the budget narrative page. It reasons the importance of that item for your research conduction. Each item is mentioned in the same order as in your budget form and should be justified respectively ( Al-Jundi & Salah, 2016 ). It is best to make a three-columned table with the name of the item in the first column, the quantity and cost in the second column, and a justification statement in the third column.

Budget Summary

In the last, you have to provide a summarized form of your budget for your proposed research. It is written at the end when you have completed writing your whole application. In this, you have to specify every item with its cost per annum. The non-recurring items will only be specified under the first-year heading as they have a one-time expense. Likewise, the recurring items will be mentioned in both years, along with their costs.

Esthetical Considerations

The following points will enhance the esthetics of your budget section:

Headings & Bullet points

Writing the budget items under a categorized heading will make it easy for the reviewers to retrieve the necessary points in your budget. You can use bullet marks or checklist signs to highlight your main points. This will show the reviewers that you have the budget representation skills and that your enlisted budget finance is authentic.

Tabulations

Try to write your budget essentials in a tabulated form with three main columns. The first column represents the item name. The second column specifies the cost of that particular essential.  The third column signifies the importance of your particular essential in performing your research. This will save both time and effort of reviewers who have to scrutinize many applications at a time.

Organization

The pattern you follow for each essential specification in the budget form should be followed in the same manner while writing the budget justification document. There should be a flow in your budget data and which will further enhance its esthetics.

Elementary Language

Your language should be simple enough to be understood by a common person. Complicated terms and phrases will only make it difficult for reviewers to reach your point of view.

Your budget prepares you for all the financial aids you need to conduct your research. It informs you about the expenses of each research item and method. In this way, you can choose an economical procedure for your research. The budget section is considered as the key factor of success or failure for your proposal. This section requires a skillful approach and should be handled delicately. Nowadays, research writers record their budget in the form of electronic spreadsheets. It is easy to manage the budget essentials and the expenses via these excel spreadsheets. You just need to point out and categorize the direct and indirect costs in the already drawn tabulated budget spreadsheet. Hence, you will be able to plan and compose a well-scripted budget by following the instructions given in this article.

• Al-Riyami, A. (2008, April). How to Prepare a Research Proposal.  Oman Medical Journal ,  23 (2), 66–69. http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3282423
• Duggappa, D.R., Nethra, S.S. & Sudheesh, K. (2016, September). How to Write a Research Proposal?  Indian Journal of Anaesthesia ,  60 (9), 631–634. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5049.190617
• Burkhardt, J., Carlson, J.N., Gottlieb, M., King, A.M., Lee, S., Santen, S.A. & Wong, A.H. (2019, January). Show Me the Money: Successfully Obtaining Grant Funding in Medical Education.  The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine ,  20 (1), 71–77. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2018.10.41269
• Al-Maniri, A. & Al-Shukaili, A. (2017). Writing a Research Proposal to the Research Council of Oman.  Oman Medical Journal ,  32 (3), 180–188. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2017.35
• Azzam, A. & Sakka, S. (2016, November). Protocol Writing in Clinical Research. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, 10(11), Z10–Z13. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/21426.8865

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Compile a research budget

Get started with your grant application budget plan..

TOP TIP: Each call has different guidelines for what may or may not be included within the budget for your project. Read your call guidelines carefully.

Where to start

Research Design = List resources that you need to conduct the project. Include your time, staff and non-staff resources such as field work, travel, research assistance or software.

Decide on a start date and project duration = The project start date (if your application is awarded) will depend on when you plan to submit your application and the assessment cycle of the funding body.

Consider the time required to recruit staff = If applicable, do you need staff at the start of your awarded project?

Devise a realistic budget plan according to the funder’s requirements and LSE’s financial regulations. Your Research Development Manager will help you compile your budget.

Contact us to compile your budget

Email your  Research Development Manager .

8 costs to examine when preparing your project budget:

1. staff salaries.

Staff salaries are often the largest cost of the budget.

Allocate enough money for staffing costs and think about what staff roles the project requires.

How do I determine which level is appropriate?

Consider the amount of time you wish to spend on the project as well as the amount of research assistance and expertise required.

You may need administrative support if you plan on sending out a large number of questionnaires and have a lot of data entry to do. If the study is complex, you may want a senior research fellow with previous experience. It will cost more but it will be an expense worth paying for.

View research staff role profiles

View salary scales

Extra staff costs

In addition, there will be extra costs to include, such as:

• recruitment advertising 
• redundancy expenses
• pension costs
• national insurance contributions

Named staff

Follow School procedures for including named staff in proposals. If you have a specific person in mind, contact your Research Development Manager .

Check local practice with your Department/Centre Manager as additional procedures on staffing salary levels may apply.

2. Indirect costs

Indirect costs can include:

• estates costs and institutional overheads
• the cost of using an office
• facilities such as HR, IT support and library services

Often a funding body will only pay a contribution towards these. Research and Innovation will calculate these costs based on a standard full economic costing.

To add these costs to your budget, email the  Research Development Team . 

3. Equipment

This could include items such as a digital recorder or a laptop for carrying out field work.

Some equipment may not be eligible depending on the funder’s regulations.

For example, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) will normally expect a computer to be provided by the host institution. 

There are some exceptions - funding may be considered if a standard computer is not adequate for processing vast amounts of data.

Justify equipment explicitly in your proposal.  Contact us for further advice.

4. Consumables

Examples of standard project running costs include:

• printed brochures for dissemination events
• tea, coffee, lunch for meetings etc.
• postage and stationery
• photocopying
• computer supplies (toner)

5. Travel and subsistence

A project may require travel costs to allow you to:

• carry out field work
• attend a conference
• present findings for dissemination purposes
• meet co-investigators working on the project

Example travel costs

Estimate your budget with LSE's example cost guidelines .

Calculate travel rates  to cover the cost of subsistence and accommodation as well as flights and train costs. 

Some funding bodies have set criteria of what they are prepared to cover and may apply funding caps. For example, no business class flights; economy travel only.

Tell your  Research Development Manager :

• total number of trips needed
• number of people who need to travel
• year in which each trip will be taken 

6. Justification of resources

A common component of a project is the ‘justification of costs’, sometimes referred to as ‘resource allocation’. It's essential to spend time making this section clear. 

Expensive items

If an expensive item of equipment is crucial for the project, state how it will be used and why alternative options are not viable.

Staff costs

The same rule applies for the inclusion of those people who have specialised expertise – please state:

• what these staff will be doing
• why less costly options are not viable

Discuss your costs with the Research Development Team .

7. Research Grants Policy (formerly Research Incentives Policy) 

The Research Grants Policy provides financial rewards for staff who win research funding – to enhance their salaries, to buy out their time from teaching and/or to provide unencumbered research funding – and research funding for the departments and research centres which host them. 

It came into full effect from 1 August 2021 and applies partially to awards falling prior to this date but after the suspension of its predecessor, the Research Incentives Policy, in June 2020. View the Research Grants Policy

The Research Incentives Policy was suspended in June 2020 and remains active only for eligible legacy projects. It has been replaced by the Research Grants Policy. View the Research Incentives Policy

8. Ineligible costs

Each call has different guidelines for what may or may not be included within the budget for your project. 

Read call guidelines. If in doubt, check details with your Research Development Manager in the Research Development Team.

Contact us Get in touch today to discuss your research idea or project

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Developing a Budget for Your Research Application

Budgets and budget justifications demonstrate feasibility, value for money and detail why you need an item for your project, as well as how you arrived at the costings.

Every research project has two budget categories: direct costs and indirect costs.

The University determines a set percentage for the indirect costs of funded research. Contact Grants Services for the correct figure to use.

Direct costs are costs integral to achieving the research objectives of a grant. The costs directly address the research objectives of the grant and relate to the research plan.

Direct cost examples:

• Personnel, e.g. research assistants, student stipends for PhDs, and staff costs. You need to factor in salary increases, on-costs (superannuation and payroll) and casual loadings . Always use the salary level and step corresponding with the skills and tasks required for the role. See the Position Descriptors in the relevant University Enterprise Agreement .
• Equipment, maintenance and travel (outline why you are going and for how long)
• Teaching relief
• Other (e.g. Consumables).

Indirect costs are institution costs that benefit and support research activities at the institution. Although they are necessary for the conduct of research and may be incurred during the project, they are costs that do not directly address the approved research objectives of a grant.

Indirect cost examples:

• Operations and maintenance of buildings (e.g. libraries, labs, meeting venues, IT such as computer access, specialist software, databases, secure cloud storage)
• Insurance, legal and financial services
• Hazardous waste disposal, and
• Regulatory and research compliance and administration of research services

All external research activities are expected to contribute to indirect costs except :

• Nationally competitive grants, such as ARC and NHMRC. This includes all Category 1 schemes.
• Registered charities listed on the ACNC register (opens in a new window)
• Grants transferred from another university
• Funding bodies that exclude or limit overheads or administrative costs (i.e. indirect costs) in their rules or guidelines
• Scholarships and internships
• Official Western Partnership projects
• Travel award type grants or facility usage type grants (e.g. Endeavour Fellowships, AINSE grants)
• Projects costed under $100,000 are discounted by waiving Western’s portion of the indirect costs.

Indirect costs are calculated by determining the direct costs first and then applying the indirect costs formula:

e.g. Direct costs = $50,000 x (indirect cost % figure) = Total project cost

Cash and in-kind support

Your project budget needs to include all cash and in-kind items it requires.

In-kind support is any non-cash contributions that a party gives to the project. In-kind can be contributed by Western Sydney University or by an external party, and can include:

• staff (e.g. time committed to the project which is not funded by the project)
• non-staff/infrastructure (e.g. if you are using lab space to conduct the project but are not receiving direct payment from the project to 'buy out' lab space)
• indirect costs

How to budget personnel and salaries

On-costs are direct costs associated with salary. These costs relate to superannuation, sick leave, payroll tax etc. and must be included your budget.

Access this link for more detail about Western on-costs

For the latest salary figures, please check with the Office of People

An example:

You are a Lead Chief Investigator (CI) on a non-Category 1 funding body project for one year. You commit 0.4 (FTE) of your time to the research = 2 days per week. You are paid at Academic Level E, Step 2, which is $188,944 per annum. You can calculate your salary inclusive of 28% on-costs as follows:

0.4 x 0.28 x 188,944 = 21,161.73

The budgeting of your salary, a direct cost of the research, should be listed as $21,161.73.

If your project covers three years, with the same or differing time commitments, you calculate this figure for each year of your project. Remember to factor in pay rises according to Step increases in multi-year grants.

You may also have a research assistant employed full-time for seven weeks at HEW Level 5, Step 3. You hire the assistant at the casual hourly rate of $48.97, which includes 25% leave loading. You add 16.5% on-costs to this figure:

48.97 x (35 x 7) = 11,997.65

11,997.65 x .165 = 1,979.50

1,979.50 + 11,997.65 = 13,977.15

The total cost to employ the research assistant is $13,977.15.

Note 1: the maximum period a person can be employed on a casual rate is 6 months.

Note 2: For some schemes, the funding provider stipulates a specific maximum rate for funding of salary on-costs, e.g. the Australian Research Council (ARC) funds on-costs at a rate of 30%, so you must use this figure.

• Grant Budget Calculator (Staff Login Required) (opens in a new window)

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Review information on developing proposal budgets.

Budget Development

Budget approvals, sage budget, proposals to foreign sponsors, budgeting direct costs, salaries and salary considerations, employee benefits, other direct costs.

Facilities & Administrative Costs (F&A)

Subaward Budget Development and F&A Calculations

Budget Justification Cost Share Clinical Trial Budget Resources Animal Research Considerations Human Subjects Research Considerations Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Considerations

A budget is a detailed statement outlining estimated project costs that support a sponsored project . It should include all Direct Costs, as well as the calculated Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs required to carry out the project objectives. The proposal budget should be derived directly from the project description and serves as the financial expression of the project.

Follow sponsor guidelines on requirements, allowability, and format.  Be aware of specific purchase restrictions such as the Telecommunications Purchase Restrictions on federal awards.

Before making purchases with new vendors for procurement purchases under $35k, verify they are not listed within the SAM.gov exclusions list.

Plan for requirements in federal contracts that impact your budget.

Costing principles in GIM 23 and the Uniform Guidance apply to all sponsored programs at UW.

Sponsor and UW budget categories sometimes don’t match. Review UW Budget categories and try to map them to the sponsor categories when preparing your budget.

The System to Administer Grants Electronically (SAGE) is the UW approval routing system for sponsored program proposals. Associated departments review and approve the entire proposal including related budgets via eGC1 forms .

SAGE Budget is the UW recommended tool for preparing proposal budgets and is required at time of award with an Award Setup Request . It provides streamlined, efficient entry with reliable calculations leveraged from institutional data (UW salaries, benefits, and F&A rates).

Budgets created using this tool also provide an easy-to-read summary for reviewers and Principal Investigators. SAGE Budgets can be connected to eGC1s for easy reference, and can also be used in Grant Runner to populate budget data on a federal RR budget form.

For Award Setup or Modification Requests, you are required to attach a SAGE Budget. Review How to set up an award at the UW for more details.

The UW prefers to be paid in U.S. Dollars, not foreign currency. Exchange rates fluctuate on a daily basis. If awarded in foreign currency, the value of sponsor payments can vary throughout the life of an award.

If the sponsor insists the proposal budget be expressed in foreign currency (and will pay in foreign currency), use an online currency converter to calculate the budget amounts on the eGC1 from U.S. dollars (USD) into the sponsor’s currency.

When sponsors make award payments in foreign currencies, the PI and department need to review the award amount and provide a budget using the current exchange rate. This is used to estimate the award amount in USD to set up the sponsored program budget. It is the PI’s responsibility to monitor spending and currency fluctuations closely throughout the award. Whenever converting foreign currency to USD for use in official budget documents, attach a screenshot that shows the date of the currency conversion in SAGE.

Note: The PI and department are responsible for resolving deficits , including those that may arise from currency fluctuation.

• Setup Awards from Foreign Sponsors Made in Foreign Currency
• More information and examples from Grant & Contract Accounting on Awards Paid in Foreign Currency

Cost Allocation

When costs will benefit more than one project, they need to be allocated in proportion to how they will benefit each award. Document the allocation methodology used to budget the cost in your budget justification and in your award file. Make sure that methodology is consistently applied across like circumstances.

Acceptable Allocation Method Examples:

• Number of experiments, hours, clients or employees/FTE on the project
• Square footage

Costs that will only benefit one award should only be budgeted for that award. Costs may not be allocated to more than one project based on budgetary convenience.

Direct costs are expenses specifically associated with a particular sponsored project or activity or that can be directly assigned to that project or activity with a high degree of accuracy (e.g. supplies allocation).

Personnel Salaries and Benefits are typically the largest categories of expenses. Review UW Human Resources compensation information .

• Names and titles of personnel committing effort to this project.
• Effort each will devote to the sponsored activity, expressed as a percentage or calendar/academic months
• Institutional Base Salary (IBS)

Salary costs must be:

• Appropriate for the effort expended
• Consistent with the appointment of the individual
• Supported by documentation of the expense
• Included in the proposal and approved by the sponsor or within re-budgeting authority

Review examples of unallowable direct salary costs on a sponsored program

Compensation for teaching costs unless the sponsored program activity type is for Instruction or Research training, consultation or other non-University activity, excess compensation charges not included in Institutional Base Salary (IBS), and administrative or clerical salaries, unless justified and approved by the sponsor.

Salary Limitations

Some sponsors impose salary limitations, also sometimes known as salary caps e.g.: National Institutes of Health (NIH) salary caps .

Review guidance for Documenting Salary Caps on Proposal Budgets .

Summer Salaries

Faculty with 9-month appointments

• Review UW Summer salary guidance 
• When allowed by sponsors, summer salary should be budgeted as separate line items from academic year salary.

Supplements

Approved supplements are available in the payroll system and reflected in the Institutional Base Salary .

Anticipated Salary Increases

When allowed by the sponsor, these increases should be included in the budget calculation. Increases must be reasonable and justified in the proposal.

• Cost of Living Allowances (COLA) are not set in UW policy. Some sponsors do not allow or impose limits on COLA.
• Classified staff mandatory step increases according to HR compensation guidance .
• Classified staff
• Professional staff

Administrative and Clerical Salaries

Salaries of administrative and clerical staff are normally treated as F&A costs.

Administrative and clerical costs may be proposed as direct costs if all four of these criteria exist:

• Integral to the project or activity,
• Identified specifically with the project or activity,
• Explicitly included in the budget or have prior written approval of Federal awarding agency and,
• Not also recovered as indirect costs.

If these costs are budgeted as direct costs, you must provide justification in the proposal.

Examples of potentially allowable direct charged administrative and clerical staff costs:

• Organizing a conference as a component of a larger project
• Managing travel for a large number of participants
• Organizing large datasets
• Managing complex projects with multiple sites, especially if there are multiple subawards.

If questioned, PI must justify expenses to the sponsor and auditors and will be responsible for paying back any unallowable expenses, if required.

Faculty with Veteran Affairs (VA) Appointments

For faculty who have a VA appointment (up to 40 hours or “8/8th”) and up to a full-time appointment with the UW, use the UW IBS to calculate effort and salary compensation.

Dr. Y has a full-time salary rate of $100,000 has a 50% UW appointment and is requesting 10% salary support. The commitment on the proposal represents 10% of the 50% appointment.

• Salary: 10% of the 50% salary, $5,000 ($100,000 x 50% x 10%)
• Person Months: 10% of 50% time = 0.6 person months.
• Percent Effort: 10% of 50% time, or 5%

Graduate Student Compensation

Graduate student appointments (GSA) are considered full-time at 50% FTE during the academic year and 100% during summer. When including Graduate assistants, budget for salaries, fringe benefits and tuition remission.

Use the average first-year postdoc compensation level in the respective school/college, or in the absence of a policy, consult the UW Academic Resources salary rates and minimums schedule . Budget for full actual costs.

NIH Awards: The maximum amount awarded by NIH for graduate students supported on research grants or cooperative agreements is tied to the zero level National Research Service Award (NRSA) postdoctoral stipend in effect at the time the grant award is issued.

Employee Benefits (i.e., fringe) are a direct cost charged as a percentage of salary. The rates are reviewed and approved by the federal government and apply to all sponsored projects.

Use the active rates for the applicable time period, and use the preliminary/proposed rates (if available) for all future years.

Current and Preliminary Benefit Rates

Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) Costs

Before including APL personnel or locations in your budget, contact the appropriate APL department administrator . They will help ensure all applicable APL Prorated Direct Costs, APL Fixed Fee and budget justifications are included in your proposal budget.

APL’s sole purpose is research, and its operating expenses are an allowable direct cost (2 CFR Part §200.413) on projects where APL personnel or locations are involved. APL operating expenses are recovered through the application of the APL Prorated Direct Costs (PDC) rate.

Personal Service Contracts

Individual people or entities participating in a sponsored program as a non-employee.

Examples include:

• Participation of persons as research subjects
• Implementation of computer systems
• Contracts to conduct and provide survey results, environmental studies, and assessments
• POD training
• Professional consultants

Review a full list of UW personal service categories .

Professional Consultants

Consult sponsor guidance for including consultants in your budget, requirements vary.

Independent contractors, who are:

• Typically experts in the field
• Not UW employees and,
• Don’t have a faculty appointment (e.g. VA, Children’s, etc.)

Include a letter of collaboration with dates of service, rate of pay, other miscellaneous expenses, and deliverables.

Collaborators at other higher education institutions who plan to use institutional resources are considered subrecipients and will need a formal subaward set up.

Review guidance for determining Subrecipient, Vendor, or Consultant?

Participant Support Costs

Direct costs for stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences or training projects.

Participant support costs are allowable if the project includes an education or outreach component, the costs are separately budgeted, and the agency approves the cost. Include the following in budget justification: “The inclusion of the participant support costs in the budget and the subsequent award by the agency will be considered prior agency approval.”

More information from Post Award Fiscal Compliance on Participant Support .

Other Contractual Services

Vendors or Suppliers who provide routine services for a fee , (e.g. Consultant Travel, Advertising, Shipping, Rent, Inpatient and outpatient hospital charges, Laboratory Fees).

Is it a Sponsored Program or a Service?

Subawards/Subcontracts

Review guidance for preparing proposals with subawards and the UW policy for Sponsored Program Subaward Administration . List each subaward separately, using the appropriate subaward object class/spend category. Calculate F&A on subawards following GIM 13 guidelines.

Review subaward budget development and F&A calculations .

What if subrecipient doesn’t have a negotiated rate?

If a prime sponsor has a published F&A rate policy, the subrecipient should propose its F&A in accordance with this policy.

For example, the NIH limits F&A on Grants to Foreign and International Organizations to 8% with a few exceptions.

If the originating sponsor is silent on F&A, the F&A rate subrecipient should use is 10% Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC).

Include estimated travel costs according to UW travel policies for:

• itemized transportation costs (e.g. airfare, ground transportation, etc.),
• number of days per diem,
• number and estimated cost of trips
• on federal awards, justify how each person’s travel is necessary to the award.
• If the exact location is not known, include the general location.

Most sponsors require that you justify and retain documentation for travel expenses including how they benefit the project.

Review Post Award Fiscal Compliance travel guidance .

International Travel

• Global Operations Support Essential information for travel planning and risk awareness
• Global Travel Information for UW travelers
• Global Research Single Points of Contact
• Review  Export Compliance Measures
• Global Support: Student International Travel Policy

Supplies and Materials

List supplies by major type , (e.g., publication costs, glassware, chemicals). Include the estimated cost of each type and how estimates were calculated, e.g. publications costs: list number of pages and cost per page.

Describe the allocation rationale for supplies and materials between different proposals/awards in your budget justification.

Prior year accounting records or other documentation may be used to support estimates. Retain documentation in your award file.

Considerations for Supplies and Materials

• Food, meals, and refreshments: Awards must specify and allow food purchases if they are included in the budget. Review UW food purchase guidance.
• Office Supplies: generally unallowable as a direct cost under federal awards.
• Review Administrative and Clerical Staff Salary budget preparation guidance .
• Avoid “Miscellaneous” and “Contingency” categories.
• Genomic Assays (GA) are budgeted as supply costs, however, NIH only pays F&A on the first $50,000 of GA costs each year.
• NIH Policy Statement – F&A Costs .

Review your sponsor guidelines on equipment fabrication, rental or purchases. Review Equipment Inventory Office guidance on Government Furnished Equipment .

The UW Equipment capitalization threshold is $5000. Equipment is excluded from F&A.

Purchasing Equipment

• If equipment needs are not definite, probable choices may be listed on a separate sheet and an estimated total shown on the budget page.
• Include related costs like shipping and insurance in the equipment costs if allowed by your sponsor.
• Sales Tax Exemption – Equipment purchased may qualify for the Machinery and Equipment Tax Exemption or “M&E Exemption”.

Review more information from the Equipment Inventory Office on Acquisitions .

Equipment Fabrication

Describe the equipment that will be fabricated along with a list of items that go into fabrication (e.g. materials, cost center services, salary, etc.). Review Equipment Inventory Office information on Fabrication . F&A is not applied on costs involved in fabricating equipment unless the equipment will be transferred to the sponsor or external entity for use at the end of the project.

Equipment Rental

Each piece of rented equipment should be listed by type, model number, and manufacturer along with the current rental rate of each item. Equipment rental is considered a “service” charge and F&A should be calculated.

Include associated tuition charges for graduate students employed in a 50% FTE appointment for full payroll quarters. Review Current Tuition and Fees from the Office of Planning and Budgeting. Tuition costs are exempt from F&A.

Facilities and Administrative Costs (F&A)

F&A costs are expenses that cannot be specifically identified with a particular project or activity. Also known as “indirect costs” or “overhead,” these costs are for buildings, utilities, services of administrative offices such as purchasing, accounting, payroll, and personnel offices, and other expenses necessary for operations of the institution. Review GIM 13 for more information.

What you need to know to select the correct F&A rate:

• How to Determine the Correct Rate
• Policy Circumstances
• Activity Types
• Activity Locations

Multiple Locations

• If using SAGE Budget for proposal development, create a separate SAGE Budget Worksheet for each subaward
• Each subaward budget should include its direct and F&A costs
• Indicate each subawards in the UW budget using the appropriate subaward object class / spend category.
• Calculate UW F&A on the first $25,000 of each subawards total costs

Review Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Services covered under F&A costs

F&A WAIVER

In limited situations, the Director of Sponsored Programs may waive F&A. To request a waiver, include the completed F&A waiver form , signed by the PI with Dean and Chair concurrence, in the eGC1 with your proposal materials to the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) .

The University does not waive F&A for for-profit entities.

Budget Justification

Budget Justifications are sometimes called budget narratives or budget details and are an important part of the review process (internally and externally) and details how the sponsor’s funds will be spent. Justify budget costs in detail according to the sponsor instructions. Sponsor scientific reviewers may do a preliminary cost analysis using the budget justification to determine if the science justifies the budgeted cost.

Review the budget justification primer for examples.

Explain estimates or unusual circumstances in your budget justification. Retain supporting documentation, rationales, and sources for estimates, allocation or unusual circumstances along with vendor catalogs or written quotes as support documentation in your local award file.

Example estimation tools, methods, and resources include:

• SAGE Budget Module
• Payroll system
• Anticipated merit increase
• Cost of living increase
• Travel per diems and other travel cost information
• State, federal and international tax information
• Vendor and supplier purchasing
• Relevant University policy information such as GIM 13 – F&A Rate Agreement or GIM 35 – Institutional Based Salary etc.
• Approved & preliminary fringe benefit rates
• Sponsor policy
• Federal guidelines

If a sponsor does not allow certain costs as a direct cost, they may not be included in the budget.

For example, administrative/clerical costs are not allowed as a direct cost on a federal grant. If you believe your program qualifies for an exception, you must describe how the four criteria for direct charging administrative/clerical costs are met.

OSP’s approval of the eGC1 or the sponsor making an award based on your proposal where the criteria for direct charging administrative/clerical costs were met, does not mean those costs cannot be questioned later.

Cost share is the costs of a sponsored project that the sponsor does NOT pay for.

A sponsor can require cost share and must state this requirement in the funding opportunity. A cost share commitment also occurs when a proposal includes allowable expenses or quantifiable contributions that will not be charged to the sponsor (e.g. effort level of personnel listed with no commensurate request for salary).

Cost share is not expected by federal sponsors if the agency does not include a cost share requirement in the funding opportunity. When not mandatory, the inclusion of a cost share commitment may not be used as a factor in merit review. Voluntary cost share, therefore, should not be presented in the proposal.

Cost sharing is discouraged and leads to:

• lower Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rates,
• increased administrative burden,
• redirection of University resources from other University activities.

When cost share is submitted in a proposal and accepted by the sponsor it becomes a binding commitment. The department/PI is required to provide, monitor and report on the committed resources during the project.

Sponsor approval is required to claim waived F&A as cost share . When direct costs are contributed as cost share, the associated F&A is also considered cost share.

Approvals from other UW units contributing cost share must be on the eGC1 or otherwise documented.

Clinical Trial Budget Resources

• Clinical Trials Office (CTO)
• Clinical Research Handbook
• Industry Clinical Trials

Animal Research Considerations

Costs and budget issues to consider include:

• Animal housing costs ( per diems )
• Special lab equipment, specialized housing arrangements, or specialized services
• Timing considerations: approvals prior to animal acquisition, quarantine, training requirements

The following services are covered under F&A costs:

• Training in animal use and handling
• Protocol review
• Grant/protocol congruence review
• Protocol development assistance
• Standard veterinary care
• Standard animal husbandry

Human Subjects Research Considerations

Consider whether you will need to hire staff, or contract with UW’s Institute for Translational Health Services (ITHS)  for staff. Decide whether you will need a staff person to serve as an Institutional Review Board (IRB) liaison because the UW will be the lead for collaborative or multi-site research that is being reviewed by a single IRB.

At all times, it is the PI’s responsibility to ensure all trainees or center activities involving human subjects are carried out under an approved IRB study number.

Subject payment or reimbursement

Include any subject payments or reimbursement of subjects’ expenses. If subjects’ health insurance will be charged for research-related clinical items and services; consider whether the grant will pay for co-pays and deductibles.

IRB review fees

The UW IRBs do not currently charge review fees though this may change for the review of non-UW sites. However, if the research will be reviewed by a non-UW (external) IRB, the external IRB may charge fees. You may need to include IRB review fees in the budget in the following situations:

• The UW is the lead site for collaborative or multi-site research and a non-UW single IRB will be used for all sites or institutions involved in the research. For NIH grants, see this NIH Guidance . HSD can also provide guidance on how to identify and estimate costs.
• The study is industry-initiated and industry-funded and the sponsor will not pay the fees directly.

Human Subjects Division (HSD) administrative fee

If your research is industry-initiated and industry-funded, you must send the study to an independent IRB (for example WCG IRB or Advarra) for IRB approval instead of the UW IRB. The industry sponsor will pay the IRB review fees charged by the independent IRB, but they are also required to pay HSD an administrative fee. This administrative fee should be included in your budget. See HSD’s information on the HSD Administrative Fee .

Emergency medicine research

Emergency medicine research that requires the special Exception to Informed Consent must conduct community consultation before beginning the study, which requires funds. Consult with HSD for guidance about appropriate activities, based on the nature of the research intervention and the study population. It almost always involves more than public service announcements, news releases and bus placards.

Interpretation and translation

Federal nondiscrimination laws require clinical trials to allow interested and eligible subjects to participate even if they do not speak English. This means that researchers should develop a plan for how translation and interpretation will be provided for interested and eligible subjects. For studies that may have small numbers of these subjects, this may best be handled by including in the budget the cost of retaining an interpretation and translation service that can be called upon as needed.

Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Considerations

If your project includes hazardous materials review the following considerations.

Take into account costing allocation of materials. Review GIM 23 – Distribution of Costs Across Two or More Sponsored Programs and guidance from Post Award Fiscal Compliance on cost allocation .

• Use the Laboratory PPE Assessment Guide to determine the type of personal protective equipment (PPE) needed.
• Use the Job Hazard Analysis tool to determine required controls to mitigate risk.
• Estimate the cost of ordering PPE and first aid kit through UW Procurement .
• Determine the need for chemical spill kit or mercury spill kit .
• Use the Occupational Health Recommendation . provided by the EH&S Employee Health Center  to determine costs for vaccinations and medical surveillance.
• Work with Environmental Health and Safety to accurately calculate and plan for the cost of disposal of biohazardous , chemical , radioactive , and other hazardous waste.

EH&S Services covered under F&A costs

• Training (except First Aid)
• Chemical waste collection and disposal
• Health and safety surveys and monitoring
• Assistance meeting health and safety requirements of grant proposals
• Radiation use authorizations
• Radiation dosimetry and bioassay
• Fire prevention services
• Fume hood testing
• Central SDS library and inventory system
• Indoor Air Quality Investigations
• Occupational exposure assessments
• Respiratory fit-testing
• Hazardous material spill management advice and consultation

EH&S Services not covered under F&A costs

• Radioactive Waste Disposal • Calibration of radiation detection instruments

Forms, Tools, and Resources

• F&A Waiver Request
• Sample Budget Justification
• Academic HR: Supplements and Summer Salary
• GUIDE: SAGE Budget
• Institutional Facts & Rates
• Budget Justification Primer
• PAFC: Proposal Costs
• SAGE: Accessing SAGE
• GCA: Cost Share
• PAFC: Cost Allocation
• PAFC: Requirements to Direct Bill F&A Costs
• Cost of Single IRB Review
• NSF: Sections of an NSF Proposal, The Budget: Part 1
• Subrecipient, Contractor/Vendor, Consultant?
• Grants.gov: Tips for Writing a Budget Narrative
• NIH: Selecting Correct Budget Format

Policy, Regulation, and Guidance

• GIM 35 – Effort Reporting Policy for Sponsored Agreements
• GIM 23 – Sponsored Program Costing Policy
• GIM 21 – Cost Share on Sponsored Programs
• GIM 13 – Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Rates
• GIM 03 – Fringe Benefit Rates and Sponsored Projects
• Guidelines for Collaborative Research Sharing RCR
• Best Practices for Coordination and Set-up of Cost-Shares for Collaborative…
• Travel Office: Travel Policies and Procedures
• National Research Service Award (NRSA) Postdoctoral Stipend
• CORE: Introduction to Sponsored Project Budgets
• CORE: SAGE Budget
• CORE: Direct Billing of F&A Type Costs

Announcements

• How do I document salary cap on proposal budgets?
• How do I handle F&A for charter vessels?
• Is my proposal budget the same as my award budget…
• What are some things to know about budgeting for the…
• Which single F&A rate applies when the Primate Center is…
• Who, What, Why – Searching SAM.gov

University of Washington Office of Research

Or support offices.

• Human Subjects Division (HSD)
• Office of Animal Welfare (OAW)
• Office of Research (OR)
• Office of Research Information Services (ORIS)
• Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)

OR Research Units

• Applied Physics Laboratory (APL-UW)
• WA National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC)

Research Partner Offices

• Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR)
• Enivronmental Health and Safety (EH&S)
• Grant and Contract Accounting (GCA)
• Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS)
• Management Accounting and Analysis (MAA)
• Post Award Fiscal Compliance (PAFC)

Collaboration

• Centers and Institutes
• Collaborative Proposal Development Resources
• Research Fact Sheet
• Research Annual Report
• Stats and Rankings
• Honors and Awards
• Office of Research

© 2024 University of Washington | Seattle, WA

Research Budget Template – 14+ (Word, Excel)

Research is not only a time-intensive exercise; it is also a capital-intensive one and as such, it needs a budget. Drafting a research budget is no walk in the park because you have to know exactly how much will be needed to see the process through, not to mention you may have to account for every penny spent. By virtue of being such a technical document, you will always need some help drafting it; and that’s where the research budget template comes in.

The template enables you to get a rough idea of some of the elements to include in the budget, so you do not run into any financial dead ends. Let us learn more of this critical template and see why you need it.

Medical Research Budget Template

A research proposal budget sample is in many ways similar to the research budget sample, only that at this stage, it is still a proposal.

This sample is often written in a linear or tabular format and it details all the expenses that are associated with the proposal project.

Research Proposal Budget Worksheet

Budget for Research Development

A research study budget is a document that contains a breakdown of the funds needed to meet the various activities involved in conducting a research study. It is important to remember that a research study is not just intended to develop new methods or improve the existing practices; one of the ultimate goals of the study is profit making by the researchers.

Therefore, this budget should be able to convince stakeholders, more so the sponsors, that the study is a viable cause and that investing their money in it will be worthwhile.

Sample Research Budget Sheet in PDF

Research Grant Budget Proposal

Research Trip Budget Template

A research budget example is basically a sample document of a research budget. As there are possibly hundreds or thousands of types of researches done daily, there is no hard and fast rule on the details that need to be in such a sample document. However, the rule of thumb demands that the names of the researchers be included, along with the identified challenges and expected financial investment for each challenge.

The document can take any form but primarily, the names of the researchers and the expected challenges come on the left-hand side with their corresponding assignments and projected budget for each problem respectively coming on the right-hand side of the document.

Sample Research Budget Template

Clinical Research Budget Template

Corporate Research Budget Template

Hospital Research Budget Template

Student Research Budget Form

Research Budget for Project

Undergraduate Research Budget Template

Research Budget Template (PDF)

Research Proposal Budget Template

Research/Project Budget Template

Faculty Research Grant Budget Template

Research Project Budget Example

Research Budget Template Spreadsheet

Detailed Research Budget Template

Whether you are an expert or a novice in writing research budget proposals, one thing that’s for sure is that you will always find yourself making purely avoidable mistakes.

As these documents are highly sensitive, mistakes are things you can’t afford; which is why you are advised to always keep a sample template for reference.

How did our templates helped you today?

Opps what went wrong, related posts.

19 FREE Budget Proposal Templates (Word & PDF)

Bi-weekly Budget Templates

14+ Budget Templates for Excel

5+ Bi-weekly Budget Template

Event Budget Template – 20+ Planners

Marketing Budget Template – 20+ (Excel, PDF)

Weekly Budget Template – 16+ Smart Planners

Annual Budget Template (Yearly Budget Planners for Excel)

Thank you for your feedback.

How to Write a Research Proposal: (with Examples & Templates)

Table of Contents

Before conducting a study, a research proposal should be created that outlines researchers’ plans and methodology and is submitted to the concerned evaluating organization or person. Creating a research proposal is an important step to ensure that researchers are on track and are moving forward as intended. A research proposal can be defined as a detailed plan or blueprint for the proposed research that you intend to undertake. It provides readers with a snapshot of your project by describing what you will investigate, why it is needed, and how you will conduct the research.  

Your research proposal should aim to explain to the readers why your research is relevant and original, that you understand the context and current scenario in the field, have the appropriate resources to conduct the research, and that the research is feasible given the usual constraints.  

This article will describe in detail the purpose and typical structure of a research proposal , along with examples and templates to help you ace this step in your research journey.  

What is a Research Proposal ?  

A research proposal¹ ,²  can be defined as a formal report that describes your proposed research, its objectives, methodology, implications, and other important details. Research proposals are the framework of your research and are used to obtain approvals or grants to conduct the study from various committees or organizations. Consequently, research proposals should convince readers of your study’s credibility, accuracy, achievability, practicality, and reproducibility.   

With research proposals , researchers usually aim to persuade the readers, funding agencies, educational institutions, and supervisors to approve the proposal. To achieve this, the report should be well structured with the objectives written in clear, understandable language devoid of jargon. A well-organized research proposal conveys to the readers or evaluators that the writer has thought out the research plan meticulously and has the resources to ensure timely completion.  

Purpose of Research Proposals  

A research proposal is a sales pitch and therefore should be detailed enough to convince your readers, who could be supervisors, ethics committees, universities, etc., that what you’re proposing has merit and is feasible . Research proposals can help students discuss their dissertation with their faculty or fulfill course requirements and also help researchers obtain funding. A well-structured proposal instills confidence among readers about your ability to conduct and complete the study as proposed.  

Research proposals can be written for several reasons:³  

• To describe the importance of research in the specific topic  
• Address any potential challenges you may encounter  
• Showcase knowledge in the field and your ability to conduct a study  
• Apply for a role at a research institute  
• Convince a research supervisor or university that your research can satisfy the requirements of a degree program  
• Highlight the importance of your research to organizations that may sponsor your project  
• Identify implications of your project and how it can benefit the audience  

What Goes in a Research Proposal?    

Research proposals should aim to answer the three basic questions—what, why, and how.  

The What question should be answered by describing the specific subject being researched. It should typically include the objectives, the cohort details, and the location or setting.  

The Why question should be answered by describing the existing scenario of the subject, listing unanswered questions, identifying gaps in the existing research, and describing how your study can address these gaps, along with the implications and significance.  

The How question should be answered by describing the proposed research methodology, data analysis tools expected to be used, and other details to describe your proposed methodology.   

Research Proposal Example  

Here is a research proposal sample template (with examples) from the University of Rochester Medical Center. 4 The sections in all research proposals are essentially the same although different terminology and other specific sections may be used depending on the subject.  

Structure of a Research Proposal  

If you want to know how to make a research proposal impactful, include the following components:¹  

1. Introduction  

This section provides a background of the study, including the research topic, what is already known about it and the gaps, and the significance of the proposed research.  

2. Literature review  

This section contains descriptions of all the previous relevant studies pertaining to the research topic. Every study cited should be described in a few sentences, starting with the general studies to the more specific ones. This section builds on the understanding gained by readers in the Introduction section and supports it by citing relevant prior literature, indicating to readers that you have thoroughly researched your subject.  

3. Objectives  

Once the background and gaps in the research topic have been established, authors must now state the aims of the research clearly. Hypotheses should be mentioned here. This section further helps readers understand what your study’s specific goals are.  

4. Research design and methodology  

Here, authors should clearly describe the methods they intend to use to achieve their proposed objectives. Important components of this section include the population and sample size, data collection and analysis methods and duration, statistical analysis software, measures to avoid bias (randomization, blinding), etc.  

5. Ethical considerations  

This refers to the protection of participants’ rights, such as the right to privacy, right to confidentiality, etc. Researchers need to obtain informed consent and institutional review approval by the required authorities and mention this clearly for transparency.  

6. Budget/funding  

Researchers should prepare their budget and include all expected expenditures. An additional allowance for contingencies such as delays should also be factored in.  

7. Appendices  

This section typically includes information that supports the research proposal and may include informed consent forms, questionnaires, participant information, measurement tools, etc.  

8. Citations  

Important Tips for Writing a Research Proposal  

Writing a research proposal begins much before the actual task of writing. Planning the research proposal structure and content is an important stage, which if done efficiently, can help you seamlessly transition into the writing stage. 3,5  

The Planning Stage  

• Manage your time efficiently. Plan to have the draft version ready at least two weeks before your deadline and the final version at least two to three days before the deadline.
• What is the primary objective of your research?  
• Will your research address any existing gap?  
• What is the impact of your proposed research?  
• Do people outside your field find your research applicable in other areas?  
• If your research is unsuccessful, would there still be other useful research outcomes?  

  The Writing Stage  

• Create an outline with main section headings that are typically used.  
• Focus only on writing and getting your points across without worrying about the format of the research proposal , grammar, punctuation, etc. These can be fixed during the subsequent passes. Add details to each section heading you created in the beginning.   
• Ensure your sentences are concise and use plain language. A research proposal usually contains about 2,000 to 4,000 words or four to seven pages.  
• Don’t use too many technical terms and abbreviations assuming that the readers would know them. Define the abbreviations and technical terms.  
• Ensure that the entire content is readable. Avoid using long paragraphs because they affect the continuity in reading. Break them into shorter paragraphs and introduce some white space for readability.  
• Focus on only the major research issues and cite sources accordingly. Don’t include generic information or their sources in the literature review.  
• Proofread your final document to ensure there are no grammatical errors so readers can enjoy a seamless, uninterrupted read.  
• Use academic, scholarly language because it brings formality into a document.  
• Ensure that your title is created using the keywords in the document and is neither too long and specific nor too short and general.  
• Cite all sources appropriately to avoid plagiarism.  
• Make sure that you follow guidelines, if provided. This includes rules as simple as using a specific font or a hyphen or en dash between numerical ranges.  
• Ensure that you’ve answered all questions requested by the evaluating authority.  

Key Takeaways   

Here’s a summary of the main points about research proposals discussed in the previous sections:  

• A research proposal is a document that outlines the details of a proposed study and is created by researchers to submit to evaluators who could be research institutions, universities, faculty, etc.  
• Research proposals are usually about 2,000-4,000 words long, but this depends on the evaluating authority’s guidelines.  
• A good research proposal ensures that you’ve done your background research and assessed the feasibility of the research.  
• Research proposals have the following main sections—introduction, literature review, objectives, methodology, ethical considerations, and budget.  

Frequently Asked Questions  

Q1. How is a research proposal evaluated?  

A1. In general, most evaluators, including universities, broadly use the following criteria to evaluate research proposals . 6  

• Significance —Does the research address any important subject or issue, which may or may not be specific to the evaluator or university?  
• Content and design —Is the proposed methodology appropriate to answer the research question? Are the objectives clear and well aligned with the proposed methodology?  
• Sample size and selection —Is the target population or cohort size clearly mentioned? Is the sampling process used to select participants randomized, appropriate, and free of bias?  
• Timing —Are the proposed data collection dates mentioned clearly? Is the project feasible given the specified resources and timeline?  
• Data management and dissemination —Who will have access to the data? What is the plan for data analysis?  

Q2. What is the difference between the Introduction and Literature Review sections in a research proposal ?  

A2. The Introduction or Background section in a research proposal sets the context of the study by describing the current scenario of the subject and identifying the gaps and need for the research. A Literature Review, on the other hand, provides references to all prior relevant literature to help corroborate the gaps identified and the research need.  

Q3. How long should a research proposal be?  

A3. Research proposal lengths vary with the evaluating authority like universities or committees and also the subject. Here’s a table that lists the typical research proposal lengths for a few universities.  

Q4. What are the common mistakes to avoid in a research proposal ?  

A4. Here are a few common mistakes that you must avoid while writing a research proposal . 7  

• No clear objectives: Objectives should be clear, specific, and measurable for the easy understanding among readers.  
• Incomplete or unconvincing background research: Background research usually includes a review of the current scenario of the particular industry and also a review of the previous literature on the subject. This helps readers understand your reasons for undertaking this research because you identified gaps in the existing research.  
• Overlooking project feasibility: The project scope and estimates should be realistic considering the resources and time available.   
• Neglecting the impact and significance of the study: In a research proposal , readers and evaluators look for the implications or significance of your research and how it contributes to the existing research. This information should always be included.  
• Unstructured format of a research proposal : A well-structured document gives confidence to evaluators that you have read the guidelines carefully and are well organized in your approach, consequently affirming that you will be able to undertake the research as mentioned in your proposal.  
• Ineffective writing style: The language used should be formal and grammatically correct. If required, editors could be consulted, including AI-based tools such as Paperpal , to refine the research proposal structure and language.  

Thus, a research proposal is an essential document that can help you promote your research and secure funds and grants for conducting your research. Consequently, it should be well written in clear language and include all essential details to convince the evaluators of your ability to conduct the research as proposed.  

This article has described all the important components of a research proposal and has also provided tips to improve your writing style. We hope all these tips will help you write a well-structured research proposal to ensure receipt of grants or any other purpose.  

References  

• Sudheesh K, Duggappa DR, Nethra SS. How to write a research proposal? Indian J Anaesth. 2016;60(9):631-634. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037942/  
• Writing research proposals. Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Harvard University. Accessed July 14, 2024. https://uraf.harvard.edu/apply-opportunities/app-components/essays/research-proposals  
• What is a research proposal? Plus how to write one. Indeed website. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/research-proposal  
• Research proposal template. University of Rochester Medical Center. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/MediaLibraries/URMCMedia/pediatrics/research/documents/Research-proposal-Template.pdf  
• Tips for successful proposal writing. Johns Hopkins University. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://research.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Tips-for-Successful-Proposal-Writing.pdf  
• Formal review of research proposals. Cornell University. Accessed July 18, 2024. https://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/surveys/survey-assessment-review-group/research-proposals  
• 7 Mistakes you must avoid in your research proposal. Aveksana (via LinkedIn). Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-mistakes-you-must-avoid-your-research-proposal-aveksana-cmtwf/  

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Research & Creative Activities

• NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy

NIH Policy Details

Nih research proposals that generate data are required to comply with the policy beginning january 25th 2023..

Effective January 25, 2023, the Data Management & Sharing (DMS) Policy applies to all research, funded or conducted in whole or in part by NIH, that results in the generation of scientific data. This includes all NIH-supported research regardless of funding level, including: Extramural (grants), Extramural (contracts), Intramural research projects, and Other funding agreements.

• Scientific data include: the recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as of sufficient quality to validate and replicate research findings, regardless of whether the data are used to support scholarly publications
• Scientific data do not include: Data not of sufficient quality to validate or replicate findings OR laboratory notebooks, preliminary analysis, completed case report forms, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews, communications with colleagues, or physical objects.

Under the DMS Policy, NIH requires researchers to prospectively plan for how scientific data will be preserved and shared through submission of a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP). For applicable grant and contract proposals, investigators are required to:

• ​​Submit a DMSP as part of the funding application or proposal outlining how scientific data and any accompanying metadata will be managed and shared, taking into account any potential restrictions or limitations.
• Comply with the DMSP approved by the NIH funding Institute or Center (IC).

The DMS Policy does not apply to research and other activities that do not generate scientific data, for example: training, infrastructure development, and non-research activities. Please note that some K awards will be subject to the policy if the award includes funding for research that generates scientific data. For more information about the grants and activity codes covered or exempt by the 2023 Data Management and Sharing Policy, review the References below.

References: Data Management and Sharing Policy Overview , Research Covered by the 2023 Data Management and Sharing Policy .

NIH proposals that generate data are required to include a DMSP with an emphasis on data sharing and preservation.

Sharing scientific data accelerates biomedical research discovery, enhances research rigor and reproducibility, provides accessibility to high-value datasets, and promotes data reuse for future research studies. Ultimately, the sharing of scientific data expedites the translation of research results into knowledge, products, and procedures to improve human health.

As outlined in NIH's Supplemental Policy Information “ Selecting a Repository for Data Resulting from NIH-Supported Research ,” using a quality data repository generally improves the FAIRness (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable) of the data. For that reason, NIH strongly encourages the use of established repositories (See “ Data Sharing and Preservation ” below) to the extent possible for preserving and sharing scientific data.

NIH expects that researchers will take steps to maximize scientific data sharing, but may acknowledge in DMSPs that certain factors (e.g., ethical, legal, technical) may necessitate limiting sharing to some extent. Foreseeable limitations should be described in DMSPs. Per the Supplemental Policy Information “ Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan ,” a compelling rationale for limiting scientific data sharing should be provided and will be assessed by NIH. 

NIH respects and recognizes Tribal sovereignty and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities’ data sharing concerns, and NIH has proposed additional considerations when working with Tribes in the draft Supplemental Policy Information “ Responsible Management and Sharing of AI/AN Participant Data .”

References: Data Management and Sharing Policy Overview , NIH Policy Frequently Asked Questions , Selecting a Data Repository

DMSPs are reviewed by NIH staff. Peer reviewers can comment on the budget, but not on the plans.

Peer reviewers may comment on the proposed budget for data management and sharing, although these comments will not impact the overall score, unless sharing data is integral to the project design and specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement. This approach balances the benefit of consistency afforded by NIH program staff review of plans, review of updates, and compliance monitoring, with the opportunity for peer reviewers to comment on the requests for data management and sharing costs. Over time, and through these reviews, the NIH is hoping to learn more about what constitutes reasonable costs for various data management and sharing activities across the NIH portfolio of research.

For contracts, the evaluation of DMSPs will be conducted by the agency, with input from the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and other NIH subject-matter experts as part of the proposal evaluation process.

References: NIH Frequently Asked Questions , Writing a Data Management & Sharing Plan  

Data should be shared no later than the time of publication or end of the award, whichever comes first.

Scientific data should be made accessible as soon as possible, and no later than the time of an associated publication or the end of the period of performance, whichever comes first. The DMS Policy expects scientific data to be shared at the earlier of: 

• The time of an associated publication: Scientific data underlying peer-reviewed journal articles should be made accessible no later than the date on which the peer-reviewed article is first made available in print or electronic format.
• The end of the performance period: Scientific data underlying findings not disseminated through peer-reviewed journal articles should be shared as soon as possible and no later than the end of the performance period. These scientific data may underlie unpublished key findings, developments, and conclusions; or findings documented within preprints, conference proceedings, or book chapters. For example, scientific data underlying null and negative findings are important to share even though these key findings are not always published. Researchers should be aware that some preprint servers may require the sharing of data upon preprint posting, and repositories storing data may similarly require public release of data upon preprint posting.

NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICOs) , funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), and other NIH policies (e.g., the Genomic Data Sharing Policy ) may specify earlier expectations for data sharing timelines, in which case, the data should be made available as required by those expectations. To ensure compliance with the DMSP, Contracting Officers (COs) shall include the timeframe for data sharing in all applicable contract deliverables.

If a no-cost extension is granted for an extramural award, scientific data should be made accessible no later than the time of an associated publication, or the end of the no-cost extension, whichever comes first.

References: NIH DMSP Frequently Asked Questions

Compliance is expected and monitored at regular intervals.

The DMS Policy states, “after the end of the funding period, non-compliance with the NIH ICO-approved Plan may be taken into account by NIH for future funding decisions for the recipient institution.” NIH will monitor compliance with DMSPs over the course of the funding period during regular reporting intervals (i.e., at the time of annual Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs)). Noncompliance with DMSPs may result in the NIH ICO adding special Terms and Conditions of Award or terminating the award. If award recipients are not compliant with DMSPs at the end of the award, noncompliance may be factored into future funding decisions.

For contracts, noncompliance with the DMSP will be handled in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract and applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

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Multiple Principal Investigators

The multi-PD/PI option presents an important opportunity for investigators seeking support for projects or activities that require a team science approach. This option is targeted specifically to those projects that do not fit the single-PD/PI model, and therefore is intended to supplement and not replace the traditional single PD/PI model. The overarching goal is to maximize the potential of team science efforts in order to be responsive to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century..

General Information

• Introduction
• Features of the Multiple-PD/PI Model
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• Decision to Use the Multiple PI Model
• Examples of Project Leadership Plans for Multiple PI Grant Applications , April 26, 2006 (PDF - 21 KB)
• Multiple Principal Investigator Guidance to Reviewers , January 4, 2007 (MS Word - 27 KB)

Relevant Policy Notices 

• NOT-OD-11-118 (09/28/2011) - Revised Multiple Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) Policy to Allow Change with Prior Approval
• NOT-OD-07-017 (11/20/2006) - Establishment of Multiple Principal Investigator Awards for the Support of Team Science Projects

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Analysis of Federal Funding for Research and Development in 2022: Basic Research

August 15, 2024

Funding for U.S. domestic research and development (R&D) performance, estimated to reach $885.6 billion in 2022, comes from a number of sectors, including businesses, government, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. U.S. R&D Increased by \$72 Billion in 2021 to \$789 Billion; Estimate for 2022 Indicates Further Increase to \$886 Billion. NSF 24-317. Alexandria, VA: U.S. National Science Foundation. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24317/ ." data-bs-content="Anderson G; National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). 2024. U.S. R&D Increased by \$72 Billion in 2021 to \$789 Billion; Estimate for 2022 Indicates Further Increase to \$886 Billion. NSF 24-317. Alexandria, VA: U.S. National Science Foundation. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24317/ ." data-endnote-uuid="9f8e4978-3bf6-4fc6-bca6-7368f3e4be59">​ Anderson G; National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). 2024. U.S. R&D Increased by $72 Billion in 2021 to $789 Billion; Estimate for 2022 Indicates Further Increase to $886 Billion. NSF 24-317. Alexandria, VA: U.S. National Science Foundation. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24317/ . The National Patterns of R&D Resources ( National Patterns ) publication series compiles data from surveys of organizations that perform R&D and documents trends in U.S. R&D funding and performance. In the 1980s, the business sector passed the federal government as the largest overall funder of domestic R&D performance. National Patterns of R&D Resources (annual series): table 6. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24318/table/6 ." data-bs-content="National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Patterns of R&D Resources (annual series): table 6. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24318/table/6 ." data-endnote-uuid="30c1cb86-05b9-46b1-846c-f431e4823b87">​ National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Patterns of R&D Resources (annual series): table 6. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24318/table/6 . The most recent National Patterns publication made it clear that a similar milestone is approaching with respect to funding of basic research. At the turn of the century, the federal government funded about 60% of basic research. In 2022, the federal government is estimated to fund 40% of basic research ( figure 1 ). National Patterns data are presented on a calendar year approximations based on fiscal year data, and all other data in this InfoBrief show fiscal years." data-bs-content=" National Patterns data are presented on a calendar year approximations based on fiscal year data, and all other data in this InfoBrief show fiscal years." data-endnote-uuid="409f1052-5e0c-4369-8809-8d76701b399d">​ National Patterns data are presented on a calendar year approximations based on fiscal year data, and all other data in this InfoBrief show fiscal years. As the share of federal funding for basic research has decreased, the share funded by business has increased. National Patterns estimates show that in 2022 40% and 37% of basic research is funded by the federal government and businesses, respectively.

• For grouped bar charts, Tab to the first data element (bar/line data point) which will bring up a pop-up with the data details
• To read the data in all groups Arrow-Down will go back and forth
• For bar/line chart data points are linear and not grouped, Arrow-Down will read each bar/line data points in order
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• Then use Arrow-Right and Arrow-Left to navigate the stacked bars within that stack
• Arrow-Down to advance to the next stack. Arrow-Up reverses

U.S. basic research expenditures, by source of funds: 1953–2022

FFRDCs = federally funded research and development centers.

Detail may not add to total because of rounding. This figure reaggregates the R&D performer data according to major categories of R&D funding: federal government, nonfederal government (state and local), business, higher education, and nonprofit. Business sources of R&D funding in this figure include the own funds of domestic R&D-performing businesses, funds from other domestic businesses, and funds from foreign businesses. For trend comparisons, use only the historical data reported in this figure because some back-year data may have been revised. Data are based on reports by performers in the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics annual surveys on R&D expenditures: Business Enterprise Research and Development Survey, Annual Business Survey, Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, FFRDC Research and Development Survey, and Survey of State Government Research and Development. R&D expenditures by business performers—and, before 2001, also industry-administered FFRDCs—were collected on a calendar year basis. Expenditures for other performers are calendar year approximations based on fiscal year data. Some data for 2021 are preliminary and may be revised in future iterations of the National Patterns for R&D Resources report. The data for 2022 include estimates and are likely to be revised in the next iteration of the National Patterns for R&D Resources report.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Patterns of R&D Resources (annual series).

However, data from the Federal Funding for R&D by Budget Function ( Budget Function ) show that federal funding for basic research increased from 14% of total R&D budget authority in FY 1978 to a high of over 27% in FY 2017 and has remained relatively stable ever since, holding at approximately 25% in FY 2022 ( figure 2 ). In order to understand whether federal funding for basic research is in decline and to understand what constitutes the federal government’s portfolio of basic research funding, this InfoBrief will examine federal funding for basic research using three data sources: National Patterns , Budget Function , and the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development ( Federal Funds for R&D Survey ), all sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

Federal budget authority for basic research as a percentage of total R&D budget authority: FYs 1978–2024

Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Agencies in several functions received emergency COVID-19 pandemic-related funding for R&D and R&D plant in FYs 2020–22. The data for FY 2017 and onward reflect application of the narrowed definition of development described by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in its Circular A-11 of July 2016. The previous years' numbers reflect use of the former development definition. FYs 2009–10 include American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In FY 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) changed its R&D portfolio to reclassify funding in National defense and most Administration of justice as General science and basic research; in FY 2013, this was reclassified back to Administration of justice. In FY 2004, DHS changed its R&D portfolio to reclassify funding in General science and basic research and in Agriculture as Administration of justice. In FY 2000, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) transferred funding for the International Space Station program from R&D to R&D plant; the change is reflected in the budget authority for Space flight, research, and supporting activities. In FYs 2009 and 2012, NASA revised the classification of its R&D and non-R&D funding. In FY 2000, the National Institutes of Health in the Department of Health and Human Services classified all of its previous development activities as basic research or applied research, with a resulting increase in Health basic research. In FY 1998, many Department of Energy programs were reclassified from Energy to General science and basic research. In FY 1998, the Department of Veterans Affairs began reporting medical care support funds as a part of its total research budgetary resources; the change is reflected in the budget authority for Veterans benefits and services.

Data from FYs 1955–94 are from agencies' submissions to OMB, Circular A-11, exhibit 44A, "Research and development activities," and from supplemental data obtained from agencies' budget offices. Data from FYs 1995–2024 are from agencies' submissions to OMB per MAX Schedule C, agencies' budget justification documents, supplemental data obtained from agencies' budget offices, and Executive Office of the President, OMB, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2024.

Basic Research by Funding Source

The federal government funds R&D, including basic research, that is performed in all sectors of the economy (i.e., government, business, higher education, and nonprofit). Although the federal government’s share of basic research across all performing sectors of the economy has been declining since the late 1970s, data from National Patterns shows federal funding for basic research as a percentage of total federal funds for R&D performance has increased from 10% in 1953 to 32% in 2022. Federal funds for basic research as a percentage of total federal funds for R&D reached an all-time high of 39% in 2003. The increases in federal funding for basic and applied research in the late 1990s and early 2000s can be attributed to the doubling of the budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), commonly referred to as “the NIH doubling”—a 5-year plan (1998 to 2003) between Congress and the executive branch to stimulate research through NIH, which is within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43341 ." data-bs-content="For more information on the NIH doubling, see https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43341 ." data-endnote-uuid="9c275636-85d4-42ac-89f6-0de7038e4ee9">​ For more information on the NIH doubling, see https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43341 . Since 2008, federal funding for basic research as a percentage of all federal funding for R&D has remained relatively stable, hovering between 30% and 33% through 2022 ( figure 3 ).

U.S. federally funded R&D expenditures, by type of R&D: 1953–2022

Detail may not add to total because of rounding. This figure reaggregates the R&D performer data according to major categories of R&D funding: federal government, nonfederal government (state and local), business, higher education, and nonprofit. Business sources of R&D funding in this figure include the own funds of domestic R&D-performing businesses, funds from other domestic businesses, and funds from foreign businesses. For trend comparisons, use only the historical data reported in this figure because some back-year data may have been revised. Data are based on reports by performers in the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics annual surveys on R&D expenditures: Business Enterprise Research and Development Survey, Annual Business Survey, Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, FFRDC Research and Development Survey, and Survey of State Government Research and Development. R&D expenditures by business performers—and, before 2001, also industry-administered FFRDCs—were collected on a calendar year basis. Some data for 2021 are preliminary and may be revised in future iterations of the National Patterns for R&D Resources report. The data for 2022 include estimates and are likely to be revised in the next iteration of the National Patterns for R&D Resources report.

If the share of federal funds for basic research as a percentage of all federal R&D funding has been stable at about 32% since the late 2000s, why does National Patterns data show that the percentage of total basic research supported by the federal government has been in decline? National Patterns data also demonstrate a trend in private sector R&D. For example, between 2000 and 2022, the amount of R&D funded by the business sector has more than doubled when measured in constant dollars ( figure 4 ). In 2000, businesses funded $256 billion in domestic R&D, which increased 123% to an estimated $570 billion in 2022. In contrast, federally funded R&D increased from $92 billion to $135 billion over the same time period, an increase of nearly 47%. Similarly, business funding for basic research increased from $11 billion in 2000 to $41 billion in 2022, whereas federal funding for basic research increased from $33 billion to $43 billion over the same period. (All dollar amounts in this paragraph are in constant dollars). National Patterns of R&D Resources (annual series): table 7, U.S. basic research expenditures by source of funds and performing section: 1953–2022 . Gross domestic product implicit price deflators (2017 = 1.00000) were used to adjust current dollars for inflation." data-bs-content="Data are adjusted to 2017 constant dollars from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Patterns of R&D Resources (annual series): table 7, U.S. basic research expenditures by source of funds and performing section: 1953–2022 . Gross domestic product implicit price deflators (2017 = 1.00000) were used to adjust current dollars for inflation." data-endnote-uuid="c22c0fdb-a2ad-4266-8a9a-afeb48e82ddc">​ Data are adjusted to 2017 constant dollars from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Patterns of R&D Resources (annual series): table 7, U.S. basic research expenditures by source of funds and performing section: 1953–2022 . Gross domestic product implicit price deflators (2017 = 1.00000) were used to adjust current dollars for inflation. Therefore, although federal funding for basic research as a percentage of all federal funding for R&D has been relatively stable in recent years, the growth in private sector funding for basic research has reduced the federal share of basic research across the economy overall.

U.S. R&D expenditures, by source of funds: 1953–2022

Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Gross domestic product price deflators (2017 = 1.00000) were used to adjust current dollars for inflation. This figure reaggregates the R&D performer data according to major categories of R&D funding: federal government, nonfederal government (state and local), business, higher education, and nonprofit. Business sources of R&D funding in this figure include the own funds of domestic R&D-performing businesses, funds from other domestic businesses, and funds from foreign businesses. Constant-dollar estimates are derived from unrounded data. For trend comparisons, use only the historical data reported in this figure because some back-year data may have been revised. Data are based on reports by performers in the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics annual surveys on R&D expenditures: Business Enterprise Research and Development Survey, Annual Business Survey, Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, FFRDC Research and Development Survey, and Survey of State Government Research and Development. R&D expenditures by business performers—and, before 2001, also industry-administered FFRDCs—were collected on a calendar year basis. Expenditures for other performers are calendar year approximations based on fiscal year data. Some data for 2021 are preliminary and may be revised in future iterations of the National Patterns for R&D Resources report. The data for 2022 include estimates and are likely to be revised in the next iteration of the National Patterns for R&D Resources report.

Federal Budget Authority for Basic Research by Function

The NCSES-sponsored Budget Function report provides information on budget authority for R&D, the congressionally set ceiling on obligations and outlays within the federal government, by congressional budget functions. Circular A-11: Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget, Section 20.4; Office of Management and Budget, 2023. Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf ." data-bs-content="For more information, see Circular A-11: Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget, Section 20.4; Office of Management and Budget, 2023. Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf ." data-endnote-uuid="1a828c44-6e91-49db-9eb3-1478c8847866">​ For more information, see Circular A-11: Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget, Section 20.4; Office of Management and Budget, 2023. Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf . , Budget Function Classifications: Origins, Trends, and Implications for Current Uses , U.S. General Accounting Office, February 1998, GAO/AIMD-98-67 ." data-bs-content="Budget function classifications are intended to provide a means of arraying budget data according to the major purposes served. These functions include all spending for a given topic, regardless of the federal agency that oversees the individual federal program. For more information, see Budget Function Classifications: Origins, Trends, and Implications for Current Uses , U.S. General Accounting Office, February 1998, GAO/AIMD-98-67 ." data-endnote-uuid="54c28b5e-3696-46be-aa19-56b74c864cc9">​ Budget function classifications are intended to provide a means of arraying budget data according to the major purposes served. These functions include all spending for a given topic, regardless of the federal agency that oversees the individual federal program. For more information, see Budget Function Classifications: Origins, Trends, and Implications for Current Uses , U.S. General Accounting Office, February 1998, GAO/AIMD-98-67 . Before federal agencies can issue obligations and incur outlays, they must receive authorization from Congress. Authorization is often made in the form of budget authority. Along with data presented earlier in figure 3 on federally funded R&D expenditures, federal budget authority for basic research has increased as a percentage of total R&D budget authority, from 14% in FY 1978 to a high of 27% in FY 2020 ( figure 2 ). Although the share of budget authority for basic research declined since FY 2020, the current dollar value has actually increased to $45.2 billion in FY 2022 and is expected to increase to $47.1 billion and $48.3 billion in FY 2023 and FY 2024, respectively ( figure 5 ). Budget Function : table 23 in the full set of tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/data-collections/federal-budget-function/2022-2024#data ." data-bs-content="For details, see Budget Function : table 23 in the full set of tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/data-collections/federal-budget-function/2022-2024#data ." data-endnote-uuid="43195897-9890-4a99-91a9-0b36f4e644dd">​ For details, see Budget Function : table 23 in the full set of tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/data-collections/federal-budget-function/2022-2024#data . The increased amount of total R&D budget authority during the COVID-19 pandemic had the effect of reducing the share of basic research even though the amount in current dollars is expected to increase. ​ Congress took a number of legislative steps from March 2020 through March 2021 to provide added appropriations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which increased funding for related R&D. These include the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 6074, 6 March 2020); the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201, 18 March 2020); the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (H.R. 748, 27 March 2020); and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266, 24 April 2020). Additional funding for R&D related to COVID-19 was also provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133, 27 December 2020) and by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319, 10 March 2021).

Federal budget authority for basic research: FYs 1978–2024

Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Gross domestic product implicit price deflators (2017 = 1.00000) were used to adjust current dollars for inflation. FY 2009 includes funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In FYs 2020–22, agencies in several functions received emergency COVID-19 pandemic-related funding for R&D or R&D plant.

Data from FYs 1978–94 are from agencies' submissions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Circular A-11, exhibit 44A, "Research and development activities," and from supplemental data obtained from agencies' budget offices. Data from FYs 1995–2024 are from agencies' submissions to OMB per MAX Schedule C, agencies' budget justification documents, supplemental data obtained from agencies' budget offices, and Executive Office of the President, OMB, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2024.

However, when adjusted for inflation, federal R&D budget authority has declined since FY 2020 and is estimated to be relatively unchanged between FYs 2022 and 2024 ( figure 5 ). Health is the predominant budget function for budget authority in basic research and has been since the late 1970s ( figure 6 ). Circular A-11: Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget, Exhibit 79A; Office of Management and Budget, 2023. Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf ." data-bs-content="As part of the annual budget process, the federal government designates funds for R&D to help foster knowledge and innovation within the nation. This funding is classified into 20 functional categories. For more information on federal budget functional categories see Circular A-11: Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget, Exhibit 79A; Office of Management and Budget, 2023. Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf ." data-endnote-uuid="4e89f648-286d-4d62-966e-483f155fe369">​ As part of the annual budget process, the federal government designates funds for R&D to help foster knowledge and innovation within the nation. This funding is classified into 20 functional categories. For more information on federal budget functional categories see Circular A-11: Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget, Exhibit 79A; Office of Management and Budget, 2023. Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf . Once again, the increases in the Health budget function from the late 1990s through the early 2000s are indicative of the effect of the NIH doubling. Further federal stimulus investments in 2009 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and in 2020 from funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to specific increases totaling $23.7 billion and $20.7 billion, respectively. However, these periodic stimulus funds have not had the effect of setting new levels of sustained budget authority for basic research.

Federal budget authority for basic research, by selected budget function: FYs 1978–2024

Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Not all basic research funded by the federal government falls into the General science and basic research (251) category. Federal funding for basic research arises in other functional categories—such as National defense or Health—and is included in the category funding totals there. In FYs 2020–22, agencies in several functions received emergency COVID-19 pandemic-related funding for R&D or R&D plant. FY 2009 includes funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In FY 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) changed its R&D portfolio to reclassify funding in National defense and most Administration of justice as General science and basic research; in FY 2013, this was reclassified back to Administration of justice. In FY 2004, DHS changed its R&D portfolio to reclassify funding in General science and basic research and in Agriculture as Administration of justice. In FY 2000, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) transferred funding for the International Space Station program from R&D to R&D plant; the change is reflected in the budget authority for Space flight, research, and supporting activities. In FYs 2009 and 2012, NASA revised the classification of its R&D and non-R&D funding. In FY 2000, the National Institutes of Health in the Department of Health and Human Services classified all of its previous development activities as basic research or applied research, with a resulting increase in Health basic research. In FY 1998, many Department of Energy programs were reclassified from Energy to General science and basic research. In FY 1998, the Department of Veterans Affairs began reporting medical care support funds as a part of its total research budgetary resources; the change is reflected in the budget authority for Veterans benefits and services.

Data from FYs 1955–94 are from agencies' submissions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Circular A-11, exhibit 44A, "Research and development activities," and from supplemental data obtained from agencies' budget offices. Data from FYs 1995–2024 are from agencies' submissions to OMB per MAX Schedule C, agencies' budget justification documents, supplemental data obtained from agencies' budget offices, and Executive Office of the President, OMB, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2024.

Federal Obligations for Basic Research by Agency

In FY 2022, federal obligations for basic research totaled $45.4 billion in current dollars, or about 24% of the total federal R&D portfolio ($190.4 billion). https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data ." data-bs-content="For details, see table 1 in the full set of Federal Funds for R&D Survey tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data ." data-endnote-uuid="67a2875c-949d-42f8-9e98-9310fbc34d17">​ For details, see table 1 in the full set of Federal Funds for R&D Survey tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data . From a science policy perspective, obligations for R&D are an important measure because they indicate an agency’s funding priorities at a given point in time. ​ Obligations represent the amount for orders placed, contracts awarded, services received, and similar transactions during a given period, regardless of when the funds were appropriated or when future payment of money is required. Data from the NCSES-sponsored Federal Funds for R&D Survey show that HHS (previously called the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare) has consistently been the largest funder of basic research by the federal government since at least FY 1967 when it accounted for 27% of all federal obligations for basic research ( figure 7 ). ​ The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was re-organized in 1979, creating the new Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. In FY 2008, HHS peaked as the largest funder of basic research with 59% of all federal obligations for basic research. In FY 2023, HHS alone accounted for 49% of all federal funding for basic research.

Federal obligations for basic research, by agency: FYs 1967–2023

USDA = Department of Agriculture, DOD = Department of Defense, DOE = Department of Energy, HHS = Department of Health and Human Services, NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NSF = National Science Foundation.

Because of rounding, detail may not add to total. FYs 2020, 2021, and 2022 obligations include additional funding provided by supplemental COVID-19 pandemic-related appropriations (e.g., Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act). FYs 2009 and 2010 obligations include additional funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beginning with FY 2016, the totals reported for development obligations represent a refinement to this category by more narrowly defining it to be "experimental development." Most notably, totals for development do not include the Department of Defense (DOD) Budget Activity 7 (Operational System Development) obligations. Those funds, previously included in DOD's development obligation totals, support the development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full-rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year. Therefore, the data are not directly comparable with totals reported in previous years. Prior to FY 1979, the Department of Health and Human Services was the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; these data include the predecessor organization. The federal fiscal year cycle changed in FY 1977, from 1 July–30 June to the current 1 October–30 September cycle; no data were collected for the 3-month transition period of July–September 1976. Prior to FY 1977, the Department of Energy R&D programs were under the Energy Research and Development Administration from FYs 1974–76, and prior to FY 1974, R&D was under the Atomic Energy Commission; these data include the predecessor organizations.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development.

Agencies’ shares of obligations for basic research have changed over time as agency missions have grown and developed with national needs. For example, in FY 1967, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was the second-largest funder of basic research, accounting for nearly 18% of federal obligations, followed by the Department of Energy (DOE) (previously called the Atomic Energy Commission) (16%), the Department of Defense (DOD) (15%), NSF (13%), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) (5%). By FY 2023, DOE and NSF were the second- and third-largest funders of basic research, respectively, accounting for 13% each, followed by NASA (11%), DOD (7%), and USDA (3%). In FY 2023, all other agencies combined accounted for 3% of federal obligations for basic research.

Federal Obligations for Basic Research by Fields of R&D

Federal Funds for R&D also measures federal agency obligations by type of R&D (i.e., basic research, applied research, and experimental development) and by field of R&D, formerly known as field of science and engineering. https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#technical-tables ." data-bs-content="Effective with volume 71 (FYs 2021 and 2022), the Federal Funds for R&D Survey was redesigned and the fields of science and engineering were revised to the fields of R&D. For a crosswalk of changes from fields of science and engineering to fields of R&D, see technical table A-3, Crosswalk for the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development: Volume 70 to Volume 71 at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#technical-tables ." data-endnote-uuid="89ad1195-442a-4be0-a244-6aca3f465ffe">​ Effective with volume 71 (FYs 2021 and 2022), the Federal Funds for R&D Survey was redesigned and the fields of science and engineering were revised to the fields of R&D. For a crosswalk of changes from fields of science and engineering to fields of R&D, see technical table A-3, Crosswalk for the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development: Volume 70 to Volume 71 at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#technical-tables . Federal funding for fields of R&D is often driven by agency mission and need. For example, given that HHS is the predominate funder of basic research among all agencies, it should come as little surprise that the majority of federal funding for basic research is in the field of life sciences, which accounted for 42% of all fields of R&D for basic research in FY 2022 ( figure 8 ). https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data ." data-bs-content="In FY 2022, HHS accounted for 81% of all basic research funding for life sciences. For details, see table 29 in the full set of Federal Funds for R&D Survey tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data ." data-endnote-uuid="6d476dda-9842-4f60-9e2c-c4d07fa84fd1">​ In FY 2022, HHS accounted for 81% of all basic research funding for life sciences. For details, see table 29 in the full set of Federal Funds for R&D Survey tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data . Life sciences reached a peak of nearly 60% of all fields of R&D for basic research in FY 2003 at the end of the NIH doubling process. Life sciences includes five subcategories: agricultural sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, health sciences, natural resources and conservation, and all other life sciences. https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data ." data-bs-content="For details, see table 29 in the full set of Federal Funds for R&D Survey tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data ." data-endnote-uuid="f50a55ed-8f00-49a2-af8b-346d054980eb">​ For details, see table 29 in the full set of Federal Funds for R&D Survey tables at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/federal-funds-research-development/2022-2023#data .

Federal obligations for basic research, by field of R&D: FYs 1967–2023

Because of rounding, detail may not add to total. As of volume 71 (FYs 2021–22) computer science and mathematics are collected as two separate categories: computer and information science, and mathematics and statistics. For ease of reference, they have been combined for presentation based on previous classification. Prior to volume 71, geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences were titled environmental sciences. As of volume 71, social sciences no longer includes education research or law; those categories were modified to other fields. FYs 2020–22 obligations include additional funding provided by supplemental COVID-19 pandemic-related appropriations (e.g., Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act). Beginning with FY 2016, the totals reported for development obligations represent a refinement to this category by more narrowly defining it to be "experimental development." Most notably, totals for development do not include the Department of Defense (DOD) Budget Activity 7 (Operational System Development) obligations. Those funds, previously included in DOD's development obligation totals, support the development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full-rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year. Therefore, the data are not directly comparable with totals reported in previous years. FYs 2009 and 2010 obligations include additional funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Prior to FY 1979, the Department of Health and Human Services was the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; these data include the predecessor organization. The federal fiscal year cycle changed in FY 1977, from 1 July–30 June to the current 1 October–30 September cycle; no data were collected for the 3-month transition period of July–September 1976. Prior to FY 1977, the Department of Energy R&D programs were under the Energy Research and Development Administration from FYs 1974–76, and prior to FY 1974, R&D was under the Atomic Energy Commission; these data include the predecessor organizations.

Although HHS accounted for nearly 81% of all federal basic research funding for life sciences in FY 2022, USDA was the second-largest funder, accounting for 6% ($1.2 billion), followed by NSF and the Department of Veterans Affairs at 4% ($787.0 million) and 3% ($665.1 million), respectively ( table 1 ). Although federal obligations for basic research in psychology amounts to only 5% ($2.3 billion) of all fields of R&D, it is highly concentrated within HHS, which accounted for 97% ($2.2 billion) of all basic research in psychology in FY 2022.

Federal obligations for basic research, by agency and field of R&D: FY 2022

Because of rounding, detail may not add to total. Only those agencies and subdivisions that had obligations in variables represented by this table appear in the table. FY 2022 obligations include additional funding provided by supplemental COVID-19 pandemic-related appropriations (e.g., Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act).

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, FYs 2022–23.

In FY 2022, physical sciences was the second-largest field of R&D, accounting for 21% ($9.4 billion) of all federal funding for basic research. DOE accounted for 40% ($3.7 billion) of all basic research obligations for physical sciences in 2022, followed by NASA at 35% ($3.4 billion) and NSF at 14% ($1.3 billion). Federal obligations for basic research in geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences; engineering; and other fields, each accounted for approximately 8% of all federal funds. NASA and NSF were the largest contributors to geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences with 46% ($1.6 billion) and 30% ($1.0 billion), respectively. HHS and DOD were the largest funders of basic research in engineering at 45% ($1.7 billion) and 28% ($1.0 billion), respectively. In FY 2022, basic research in computer and information sciences accounted for 5% ($2.3 billion) of all obligations for basic research, with DOE accounting for 44% ($1.0 billion) and NSF accounting for 34% ($776.0 million) of federal finding for this field of R&D.

Federal Obligations for Basic Research by Type of Performer

Although the National Patterns report presents data on R&D expenditures by performing sector and source of funds (e.g., federal government and businesses), the Federal Funds for R&D Survey present data on obligations from the federal government for R&D to several performing sectors. Although federal agencies are both performers and funders for R&D, the majority (68%, or $30.8 billion) of federal obligations for basic research in FY 2022 were directed to extramural performers of R&D—namely, businesses, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and other non-U.S. performers or foreign performers ( table 2 ). Among intramural performers, namely, federal agencies and federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), DOE was the predominant funder in FY 2022 with $4.7 billion; however, of this amount, $4.5 billion was directed toward FFRDCs. HHS followed with $4.6 billion, of which $4.2 billion was directed toward federal agencies’ facilities and laboratories. ​ In addition to obligations for the conduct of R&D at an agency’s own facilities and laboratories, the federal agency performer category also includes agencies’ administrative costs to manage extramural R&D programs and transfers to other federal agencies for the conduct of R&D. The final disposition of these transferred funds may be intramural by the receiving agency or may be issued as grants or contracts by the receiving agency as extramural R&D. However, federal reporting guidelines instruct the originating agency to report these funds. Although obligations for intramural basic research at federal agencies totaled $7.8 billion in FY 2022, HHS accounted for 54% ($4.2 billion). However, with regard to FFRDCs, DOE accounted for 66% ($4.5 billion) of total basic research to FFRDCs ($6.7 billion).

Federal obligations for basic research, by agency and performer: FY 2022

a Federal agencies' activities cover costs associated with the administration of federal R&D performance and R&D procurements from nonfederal performers by federal personnel, transfers of funds to other federal agencies for purposes related to R&D, and actual federal performance. b Higher education includes both public and private institutions as well as University Affiliated Research Centers.

As the predominant funder of basic research across all federal agencies, HHS continues to have a larger share of funding to extramural performers of R&D. For example, when it comes to federal obligations in FY 2022, HHS accounted for 31% ($1.2 billion) to the business sector, 58% ($12.8 billion) to higher education institutions, 81% ($3.2 billion) to nonprofit organizations, 87% ($472.1 million) to state and local governments, and 66% ($131.0 million) to non-U.S. performers. NASA was the second-largest funder to the business sector for basic research in FY 2022, followed by DOD. NSF was the second-largest funder of basic research to higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Federal obligations for basic research, in both current dollars and constant 2017 dollars, are the highest they have been since NCSES began keeping records of federal obligations by type of R&D in 1952 ( figure 9 ). The fact that federal obligations are a smaller share within the scope of total U.S. R&D performance is indicative of growth in the U.S. economy and increased funding for basic research by the business sector rather than any decline or dramatic change in federal science and technology policy. Indeed, basic research has increased as a share of federally funded R&D performance, federal R&D authority, and federal R&D obligations.

Federal obligations for basic research: FYs 1952–2023

Because of rounding, detail may not add to total. FYs 2009 and 2010 obligations include additional funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beginning with FY 2016, the totals reported for development obligations represent a refinement to this category by more narrowly defining it to be "experimental development." Most notably, totals for development do not include the Department of Defense (DOD) Budget Activity 7 (Operational System Development) obligations. Those funds, previously included in DOD's development obligation totals, support the development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full-rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year. Therefore, the data are not directly comparable with totals reported in previous years. FYs 2020, 2021, and 2022 obligations include additional funding provided by supplemental COVID-19 pandemic-related appropriations (e.g., Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act).