 Texas A & M has participated in over 500 research projects in over 80 countries and leads the Southwestern United States in annual research expenditures . The university conducts research on every continent and has formal research and exchange agreements with 100 institutions in 40 countries . Texas A & M ranks 13th among U.S. research universities in exchange agreements with institutions abroad and student participation in study abroad programs , and has strong research collaborations with the National Natural Science Foundation of China and many leading universities in China . 
