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Next Generation Connecticut, the groundbreaking proposal aimed at propelling UConn to the forefront of high-tech research and academics, builds on a strong tradition of innovation in the Nutmeg State, which saw the birth of crucial developments ranging from vulcanized rubber to the steamboat, the elevator, and the helicopter.

For nearly 150 years, Connecticut had more patents granted per capita than any other state. As Albert Van Dusen, a UConn professor who was State Historian in the mid-20th century, once wrote, “The extreme inventiveness of Connecticut citizens has been remarkable. The list of epochal inventions is almost endless.”

Next Generation Connecticut not only builds on that legacy, it also leverages the cutting-edge research already being done at UConn in fields ranging from clean energy to personalized medicine to genomics to digital media. Among other key elements of the proposal, Next Generation Connecticut would see the University increase enrollment by 6,580 (30 percent); hire 259 new faculty members, including 200 in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines; and revolutionize STEM infrastructure across the university.

The ultimate goal of the program is not only to position UConn on the leading edge of 21st century research, but to spur economic development across Connecticut.