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Your funding source for new equipment will vary depending
on if you are in academia or industry. At a university, you
can apply for a grant to fund the purchase. Also, you may
receive support from external sources that are interested
in funding your research. These external sources include
foundations, private donations, crowdsourcing platforms such
as GoFundMe, or collaborations with other groups that have
similar interests.
To make the purchase more affordable, consider asking for
support from other groups at your institution who share your
interests and have extra funding. Or, consider purchasing an
entry-level instrument and plan to upgrade it at a later time.
As with any other big purchases, once the financing is in
place, the rest of the process is relatively straightforward.
Most technologies will require some form of installation,
implementation, and training. Aside from occasional support
and maintenance, your new instrument is ready to become
an invaluable part of your workflow, providing valuable data
that supports your research.
TOTAL COST OF INVESTMENT
Budgeting properly for a new instrument means looking
at more than just the price tag––there are other costs to
consider. Here is everything to be aware of when thinking
about the total cost of your investment:
• Purchasing costs – the sticker price of the new system
• Installation costs – how much it costs to have the
instrument set up by the vendor
• Running costs – how much it costs to run the system
in terms of consumables and energy
• Service and maintenance costs – how much you will get
charged for repairs or regularly scheduled maintenance,
and how that impacts lab downtime
• Support costs – how much it will cost to get technical
support for the so ware or scientific support for your
applications
• Additional so ware upgrades – what you can expect
to pay for major so ware upgrades
