USHE institutions brought $688 million to the state in research and other grant funds during the 2015-2016 academic year, an increase of almost 5% over the previous year. Institutional grants and contracts provide significant benefits to campuses and society as a whole through gains from research, innovative teaching practices and job creating. For 2015-16, USHE institutions were awarded over $688 million on total grants, with nearly $473 million of that in research grants.