University Affiliated Research Center (UARCs)

A University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) is a strategic United States Department of Defense (DOD) research program that is associated with a university. UARCs were established to ensure that essential engineering and technology capabilities of particular importance to the DOD are maintained. University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) are designed to provide critical mass in research areas that meet Army and DOD future needs and anticipated combat requirements. UARCs are university-led collaborations between universities, industry and Army laboratories that conduct basic, applied and technology demonstration research. The universities, considered at the forefront of science and innovation in a specific research area, provide dedicated facilities and share space with Army and industrial participants. The industrial partners provide competence in related technologies, expertise in transitioning technologies from laboratories to markets and cost sharing. The emphasis for each UARC is to conduct research where breakthroughs are likely to enable revolutionary capabilities for our warfighters.