Explore the argument
Why research loses money
Winning more research funding can enlarge the gap an institution must cover from somewhere else.
The key pointResearch grants often meet only part of the full economic cost of doing the work.
Research is central to the identity and public purpose of many universities. It is also commonly underfunded relative to its full economic cost.
Direct and indirect costs
A grant may pay for named researchers and equipment without fully covering laboratories, libraries, specialist services, administration, estates and the time of permanent academic staff.
The missing share must be found elsewhere. At system level, that means research success can increase the need for cross-subsidy.
What this page will show
The completed explainer will distinguish award value, direct cost and full economic cost, with links to the relevant TRAC definitions and source data.