Research and innovation at CU Boulder is transforming the world. While our faculty, researchers and staff lead the charge, this work increasingly brings together undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, entrepreneurs, and partners across government, industry and the community.

At the heart of this enterprise is a vibrant community of world‑class experts collaborating across disciplines to accelerate ideas through the entire innovation lifecycle—from discovery to global impact.

Explore how CU Boulder innovators are shaping the future—and learn how you can participate.

Major Research & Innovation Office Services and Initiatives

Research Operations & Administration

Research Operations & Administration provides the administrative backbone for CU Boulder’s research and creative work. These teams manage contracts and grants, financial and HR services, and strategic program operations.

Key Units & Services

  • Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG)
    Supports proposal preparation, budget development, award negotiation and guidance throughout the award lifecycle.
  • Program Management Office (PMO)
    Enhances alignment and coordination across major initiatives through shared resources and unified project support.

Learn more: Research Operations & Administration

Research Security & Integrity

Research Security & Integrity ensures CU Boulder meets the highest standards in ethical conduct, regulatory compliance and responsible research practices. This includes leadership in federal compliance requirements, research security protocols and campus‑wide training.

Key Units & Services

  • Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
  • Office of Animal Resources
  • Human Research & IRB
  • Conflicts of Interest & Commitment
  • Export Controls & Controlled Substances
  • Research Misconduct & Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Comprehensive Research Security Program (cybersecurity, export controls, foreign travel security and more)

Learn more: Research Security & Integrity

Research Strategy & Development

Research Strategy & Development strengthens faculty success and institutional competitiveness through proposal support, team formation, strategic positioning and the cultivation of major research initiatives. This team includes several university‑wide research initiatives to broaden interdisciplinary support and accelerate growth.

Services Include

  • Funding opportunity identification
  • Proposal strategy, facilitation and review
  • Support for center‑scale or multi‑institutional proposals
  • Faculty development programs
  • Management and integration of AB Nexus, CUbit Quantum Initiative, Center for National Security Initiatives and the Sustainability Research Initiative

Learn more: Research Strategy & Development

Innovation & Partnerships

Innovation & Partnerships connects CU Boulder’s research strengths with real‑world impact. By aligning technology transfer, industry engagement, entrepreneurship and workforce development, this pillar accelerates the translation of discoveries into societal and economic benefit.

Key Units & Programs

  • Venture Partners at CU Boulder
    Supports commercialization through licensing, intellectual property protection, startup formation and early‑stage capital.
  • Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
    Provides programs, courses and support networks that cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets campuswide.
  • Industry Research Partnerships
    Facilitates collaborations between academia and industry by simplifying the path to innovation.  

Learn more: Innovation & Partnerships

Research Institutes & Centers

CU Boulder’s research institutes and centers drive discovery across a wide range of disciplines—from aerospace to quantum to the arts and humanities. Twelve major research institutes and more than 75 centers conduct over half of all sponsored research at CU Boulder, serving as engines for innovation, education and economic impact.

Highlights

  • 12 major research institutes, home to world‑leading researchers and students
  • 75+ research centers embedded across departments and institutes
  • Significant contributions to national research priorities in space, quantum science, sustainability, national security and more

Learn more: Research Institutes & Centers

Research Computing

CU Boulder’s integrated cyberinfrastructure provides large‑scale computing, data storage, high‑speed transfer capabilities and consulting services to support cutting‑edge research and competitive proposal development.

Learn more: Research Computing

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs enhances and supports postdoctoral training and career development, helps build a sense of community among postdocs, and serves as a resource to campus and affiliated national labs.

Learn more: Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Core Facilities and Shared Instrumentation

Core Facilities and Shared Instrumentation is a resource for the entire CU Boulder campus that enables fundamental and applied research, and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration across our many departments, institutes and centers.

Learn more: Core Facilities and Shared Instrumentation

To learn more about our major research and innovation services and initiatives, visit the Research & Innovation Office webpage.