UF received more than $4.7 million from the federal government Friday to promote research and support for three programs.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Republican from Ocala who secured the money for UF, presented checks to UF President Bernie Machen at the Health Science Center on Friday.
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said money supporting UF programs is helpful in the face of budget cuts.
More than $4.5 million of the funds will be used to establish UF wireless technology to monitor the military's perishable materials, Orlando said.
He said it is typical for a major research institution to support programs for soldiers and veterans.
Stearns allocated $97,000 to support UF's Gator-Tech Smart House, a model home equipped with technology to assist disabled and elderly people at home, according to a UF news release.
"It's basically a house that's chock-full of technology that makes it easier for older people to live on their own longer," Orlando said.
UF will also use $150,000 to promote research for finding renewable energy sources to decrease dependence on foreign oil.
"This will definitely be a good boost in that direction because it's something that everybody can relate to, and everybody understands the importance of it," Orlando said.
