While meeting on the University of Utah campus Thursday, Utah lawmakers unveiled a proposal to invest $100 million to support research at the state’s two public research institutions.

Sen. Ann Millner framed the proposed Higher Education Research Funding Pilot Program as a necessary investment of taxpayer money to ensure Utah maintains its edge in several critical fields and further spur economic development arising from partnerships between private enterprise and public universities.

“I believe that if we’re going to be No. 1 in innovation and stay No. 1 in innovation, we have to invest, particularly in an environment where the federal government is changing their approach and their strategy. We talk all the time about being able to direct our own future as a state. This is our chance to start to do that in research. We need to step to the plate,” said Millner, R-Ogden, while addressing the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee during a rare off-Capitol appearance in the U’s Eccles Health Sciences Education Building.

“I’m a very strong believer that talent development is important. But I want you to look at the areas where we need to develop talent. Quantum computing, advanced robotics, biotech research, precision genomics, artificial intelligence, secure computing, emerging energy, advanced materials, nanotechnology. And we could add critical minerals to that,” she said.

The requested appropriation come’s with companion legislation that would establish a pilot program to vet and approve grant applications. HB373 is sponsored by Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton, a subcommittee co-chair with Millner.

Millner’s remarks followed presentations by U President Taylor Randall and Brad Mortensen, president of Utah State University, outlining the sister institutions’ research missions and contributions to scientific discovery and innovation. The two schools, combined for nearly $1.3 billion in research grants awarded last year, most of it from federal sources.

Randall highlighted the U’s Utah Population Database, a 50-year-old project to collect families’ genetic and medical histories. Its contributions to medicine are legendary. (See the slide decks supporting his presentation.)

“This has evolved into the world’s richest medical database. Since 1975, the University of Utah and research affiliated with it have discovered over 50 cancer-causing genes. Once you discover those genes, then you can actually develop therapies around them,” Randall said.

Randall also leaned into critical and rare earth minerals, the raw materials the United States must secure to develop advanced technologies and new energy systems. Research is underway at the U to locate and process these mineral deposits.

“Many of those processing capabilities are extremely technical and need new technologies,” Randall said. “We do believe that Utah is well situated to become a leader in rare earth minerals processing and we are ready to invest with you in that area.”

USU also maintains a large research footprint, having landed more $500 million in research funding last year, with about two-thirds of that going to its Space Dynamics Laboratory.

USU President Brad Mortensen said he hopes to build a stronger partnership between the lab, which is sponsored by an arm of the U.S. Air Force devoted to space-related concerns, and the rest of university.

For its part, the U contributes about $1.6 billion to Utah’s economic output. Nearly 13,000 of its 45,000 employees work in research. Last year, U researchers submitted 3,700 grant proposals to federal agencies, as well as industry and philanthropic organizations, resulting in 2,500 awards worth $782 million, according to Erin Rothwell, the U’s vice president for research.

“That is phenomenal,” she said. “Our researchers are in the 90th percentile for the number of grant dollars per faculty and proposals per faculty member. We’re outperforming elite institutions in terms of productivity per faculty member in the research community.”

This work also generates plenty of intellectual property, resulting in a record 542 invention disclosures last year.

“We’ve also been really working hard to rethink the translational pipeline of basic science or translational science and bring it to real world impact,” Rothwell said. “You can see last year we have really doubled down on engagement with our researchers earlier in the pipeline.”

The U launched nine startup companies last year seeking to commercialize technologies developed on campus, such as TraceAQ, which is garnering attention for its air quality prediction tools. Another 31 startups are in the pipeline.

“This isn’t possible without the state of Utah. Utah is the startup state of the country. We are No. 1 in innovation capacity and outcomes,” Rothwell told the panel. “And that is thanks to all of you up here.”

But Millner, who served as Weber State University’s president from 2002 to 2012, challenged her colleagues to do more, noting that Utah’s financial contribution to research ranks third to last.

“I believe there’s a really important place for community colleges, for regional institutions, that we meet the needs of students where they are. But we can’t be successful as a state if we don’t have a strong research program,” Millner said.

She praised the universities for laying the foundations that support a successful enterprise.

“They have done a miraculous job of doing that, but in many ways, without much help from us [the Legislature]. “It’s time for us to start investing,” said Millner. “Those results are not accidental. There are administrators, faculty members, researchers working on our campuses with a dedication to whatever their field is, making a difference.”

Banner image: U President Taylor Randall confers with State Sen. Ann Millner at a legislative appropriations committee meeting held on campus Feb. 5, 2026. Photo credit: Charlie Ehlert/UHealth.

• Rebecca Walsh 801-550-4930 Rebecca.walsh@utah.edu