Research collaboration involving multiple institutions is a growing trend, as can be seen by increases in the amount of total expenditures for research and development that universities pass through to others and receive from others (pass-through funds). Funds passed through universities to others grew from $1.4 billion in FY 2000 to $3.8 billion in FY 2009, and pass-through funds received by universities from others grew from $1.8 billion to $4.1 billion.

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