Stanford University

NSF funding played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most influential technology companies in the world. It led the multi-agency Digital Library Initiative that funded the BackRub project at Stanford, providing equipment for the BackRub prototype and supporting Sergey Brin through a Graduate Student Fellowship.

From these humble beginnings, Google has evolved into a technology powerhouse, now part of the larger Alphabet Inc. organization. The company’s reach extends far beyond its initial search engine focus, encompassing a diverse range of cutting-edge products and services including advertising, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and hardware. Alphabet has also ventured into providing internet access through Google Fiber, offering high-speed connectivity in select U.S. cities. They have also initiated projects like Taara, which uses light beams to deliver internet to remote areas. These innovative endeavors demonstrate the company’s commitment to pushing technological boundaries and improving community connectivity.

Valued at more than $2 trillion, Alphabet employs more than 180,000 people across the United States. It’s economic reach and impact extends far beyond direct employment. The Google Career Certificate program has graduated 250,000 Americans, providing them with job-ready skills and training in fast-growing fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, e-commerce, and more. The company also offers pro-bono upskilling, reskilling, and training opportunities to hundreds of thousands of students — and people currently employed in the public and private-sector workforce — helping improve Americans’ digital literacy.

Alphabet has revolutionized access to information, transformed digital advertising, and shaped industries through innovations in search, AI, cloud computing, and mobile technology, making it a driving force in the global technology landscape. Its products and services have tremendous downstream impacts too, helping small businesses maximize efficiencies and processes and allowing operations to grow and thrive. Alphabet has also invested more than $2 billion in a diverse array of suppliers and $26 million in funding for American startups across the country through its Founders Funds.

The success of Google and Alphabet underscores the significant role of federal funding in fostering innovation and economic growth. The NSF’s support of early-stage research at Stanford University exemplifies how government investments can lead to groundbreaking technologies and companies that transform industries to create substantial economic value. Today, Alphabet continues to invest heavily in research and development, with over $40 billion spent in the U.S. in recent years, and is committed to expanding its presence across the country through significant investments in offices and data centers.

The ongoing relationship between Google and Stanford University continues to advance information technology. Google has endowed graduate fellowships and a professorship at Stanford and supports numerous technology projects. Many Stanford faculty members have worked at Google, and the company has licensed Stanford inventions, such as research professor Sebastian Thrun’s technology that is incorporated into Google’s Street View. This collaboration demonstrates the enduring impact of academicindustry partnerships on innovation and economic development.