A recent National Science Foundation report found that research collaboration among multiple institutions is a growing trend.

The
conclusion was drawn by noting increases in the amount of total
expenditures for research and development that universities pass through
to other institutions and receive from other institutions.

During
fiscal years 2000-2009, the amount of R&D funding that passed
through universities to others for collaborative projects grew more
rapidly than overall academic R&D expenditures. After adjustment for
inflation, total academic R&D expenditures increased 47% during
this period, and R&D funds passed through to others more than
doubled.

In
fiscal year 2000, universities provided about $700 million to other
schools and about $482 million to other entities; in fiscal 2009, they
provided $1.9 billion to other schools and $1.4 billion to other
entities.

Federal
initiatives contributed to this growth in research collaboration, as
did technological advances that facilitate communication. Other factors
were opportunities for division of labor, risk sharing, and increased
research credibility.

Report: Collaboration in Academic R&D: A Decade of Growth in Pass-Through Funding

Source: National Science Foundation