University Affiliated Research Center

A University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) is a strategic United States Department of Defense (DoD) research center associated with a university. UARCs were formally established in May 1996 by the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E), Office of the Secretary of Defense, with the UARC Management Plan signed by Anita K. Jones. UARCs were established to ensure that essential engineering and technology capabilities of particular importance to the DoD are maintained. Although UARCs receive sole source funding under the authority of 10 U.S.C. Section 2304(c)(3)(B), they may also compete for science and technology work unless precluded from doing so by their DoD UARC contracts.

These not-for-profit organizations maintain essential research, development and engineering "core" capabilities; maintain long-term strategic relationships with their DoD sponsors; and operate in the public interest, free from real or perceived conflicts of interest. Collaboration with the educational and research resources available at their universities enhances each UARC’s ability to meet the needs of their sponsors.

University affiliated laboratories have been conducting research and development for the United States Navy for the last sixty years. In the 1990s, the Navy committed a relationship to the four university laboratories by designating them as University Affiliated Research Centers. The Systems Engineering Research Center at Stevens Institute of Technology was opened in 2008.

In July 2004, the Navy proposed the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa as another UARC. In response, the students of U.H. and the community protested with a six-day sit in at the campus administration building.