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New UW and WSU presidents warn federal funding changes could jeopardize Washington’s research economy
Summary
At an AWB Policy Summit session, University of Washington President Robert J. Jones and Washington State University President Elizabeth Cantwell said changes to the federal–university funding relationship could threaten the state’s research-driven economy and urged state and private-sector support and “radical partnerships” to protect innovation.
At an Association of Washington Business Policy Summit session presented by Microsoft, University of Washington President Robert J. Jones and Washington State University President Elizabeth Cantwell warned that shifts in federal support for research risk undermining Washington’s innovation economy.
Jones said the traditional federal partnership with research universities is at risk and described the potential impact in stark terms: “the threat of dismantling a 100 year old partnership between the federal government and research universities” could be “very, very disruptive” to innovation (Robert J. Jones, University of Washington). He urged university leaders, industry and state officials to engage federal agencies and explore a range of responses, including litigation and closer cooperation with agencies, to protect research funding.
Cantwell framed the risk in economic terms, telling the audience that research at UW and WSU has driven the state’s economy for decades and that continuing those activities is essential: “there’s billions and billions of dollars a year for the state of Washington, that we are proud… to deliver on, and we have to figure out how to continue to do that” (Elizabeth Cantwell, Washington State University). Microsoft’s Beth Dam, who introduced the presidents, said Microsoft has invested about $165,000,000 in education and research partnerships with the two universities.
On technology priorities, Jones emphasized the urgency of investments in quantum computing and AI and argued that leadership will require “massive investments” and cooperative efforts across universities, federal labs and industry. “Whoever… creates the first fault tolerant utility grade quantum computer is gonna dominate everything from health care to medicine to banking,” he said, pressing for a statewide strategy to secure a competitive position.
Both presidents pointed to examples of existing interuniversity collaboration — faculty-led projects on salmon fisheries and sustainable aviation fuels — and asked the state to consider targeted research dollars that specifically incentivize joint work. Cantwell said rethinking the regulatory and funding relationships over the next five to seven years is necessary to sustain research productivity.
No formal action was taken at the session. Both presidents called for deeper collaboration among public universities, private-sector partners and state government to protect and grow research capacity in Washington.
