But corporations are not the only ones cutting back.

"It's a bad sign when major corporations cut support to important projects like this," she said.

Two large corporations that he would not name cut their gifts by more than $500,000 each.

For years corporations had been cutting costs by downsizing.

The index had been falling sharply since late 2000 as corporations cut jobs.

As corporations cut research, the role of research universities in training engineers becomes more important.

And many of them say they will push the corporations to cut all ties with South Africa.

Some of the tour's most prominent players did not have their equipment contracts renewed this year because corporations are cutting back.

But in the last year or so, the weakening economy has made corporations cut back on capital expenditures, including computers.

"As corporations cut back they want more from their real estate services providers," he said.