Band 7.5 — Pie Charts: Sources of University Research Funding (2010 vs 2020)

The two pie charts compare where universities in one country obtained their research funding in 2010 and 2020.

Overall, the state remained the single largest source of funding at both dates, yet its dominance weakened considerably over the decade as contributions from industry and charities grew in importance.

In 2010, government grants provided over half of all research income, at 55%, more than double the share supplied by industry, which stood at a quarter. Charities contributed a further 12%, whereas international sources, at 8%, made up the smallest share. Ten years later, the funding mix had become far more diverse.

By 2020, the government's share had fallen sharply to 38%, whereas industry funding had climbed to 34%, thereby almost closing the gap with the state. Charitable foundations, having increased their contribution by half, reached 18%, while international funding edged up to 10%. In short, universities ended the decade markedly less dependent on public money than they had begun it, having drawn instead on an increasingly varied set of sources.