Research, Scholarship, and Creative Endeavor at the University of Notre Dame: A Year In Review

2025 Annual Report

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Jeff Rhoads Casual

Greetings to our beloved Notre Dame Research community,

We have launched this inaugural annual report for research at the University of Notre Dame to document, share, and celebrate extraordinary achievements that testify to the dedication and interdisciplinary collaboration of our remarkable faculty, students, and staff.

As our University president Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C reminds us, “at Notre Dame, the excellence we are called to is neither one-dimensional nor limited to conventional measures.” In this report we invite you to go beyond the facts and statistics and dive deeper into our stories that truly convey what it means for our researchers to work as a “powerful means for doing good in the world.”

Yours in Notre Dame,

Jeffrey F. Rhoads signature

Jeffrey F. Rhoads, John and Catherine Martin Family Vice President for Research and Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

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Advancing Innovation and Community

In 2025, the City of South Bend’s Redevelopment Commission pledged financial support for the development of Colfax Corner, a new 202,000-square-foot research and innovation hub led by Ancora in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame. By locating more than 400 high-tech jobs to downtown South Bend and engaging the community with an active calendar of programming and events, Colfax Corner will spark renewed energy in the city, with a projected $750 million direct impact to the local economy over the next 10 years.

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Tracking Our Impact

Two students in blue lab coats and purple gloves work in a chemistry lab. A male student in a cap holds a graduated cylinder, while a female student in safety goggles uses a pipette to transfer liquid.

Top 100

For the second year in a row, Notre Dame has been named one of the top U.S. universities granted utility patents.

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73 countries

Research activity spanned 73 countries around the world, while also touching local communities.

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50 percent

Half of Notre Dame's undergraduate population took part in original research experiences.

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Notre Dame Research, Under Armour reach historic partnership to pursue innovations in materials, data analytics and human performance

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Through multiyear research collaboration, Notre Dame and Beacon Health System will advance discovery and patient care

Impacts across campus and beyond

Our Metrics

Awards Received

Show tabular data
Fiscal Year Award Count Award Amount
2013 527 $95,754,742
2014 566 $113,063,226
2015 626 $133,743,910
2016 697 $128,150,256
2017 688 $138,087,014
2018 670 $141,590,455
2019 695 $180,628,753
2020 739 $172,485,964
2021 802 $222,708,801
2022 794 $243,968,279
2023 824 $215,969,334
2024 829 $223,529,919
2025 823 $217,753,474

FY25 Awards by Prime Sponsor

Show tabular data
Sponsor Type Award Count Award Amount
Federal 513 $126,767,000
Foundation 107 $68,243,910
Industry 89 $10,467,580
Other Non-Fed 114 $12,284,984

A Snapshot of Our Year

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New Wideband Test Facility Opens at Notre Dame

An artist paints a medieval-style, three-panel stained glass design on a light table. The panels depict a sleeping figure, an adult with a child at a desk, and architectural elements in vibrant blues, yellows, and reds. They hold a brush and watercolor palette.

Notre Dame joins Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities

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Four Notre Dame faculty invested as members of American Academy of Sciences and Letters

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With grant from Lilly Endowment, Notre Dame will advance a faith-based approach to AI ethics

Students on the Space Trek tour Axiom Space headquarters and facilities at Houston Spaceport

Notre Dame launches cancer research — and students’ careers — through space industry partnerships

Hesburgh Library's "Word of Life" mural shines brightly in blue and yellow at night, honoring Ukraine. The striking illuminated building and surrounding trees reflect perfectly in a dark, wet ground surface under a starry sky.

Notre Dame announces new research collaborations with Ukrainian Catholic University

Continue Discovering

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Research for the public good

From hypersonic flight to emergency response data, explore a collection of federally-funded research projects from the University of Notre Dame.

The Hesburgh Library's "Word of Life" mural glows at dusk, showing Jesus with arms raised above figures. A golden "ND" logo shines brightly in a Joyce Center window, all set against an orange and purple sunset sky.

“The Why Axis”

Discover more about research intention in an interview with Jeff Rhoads, Notre Dame's John and Catherine Martin Family Vice President for Research and Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.

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The Next Generation

Learn how Notre Dame is advancing the next era of radiation research, based on a rich history of innovation in the field.