Few universities can match the depth and breadth of Purdue's research capabilities and talent. As you explore our world-changing research, you'll quickly see why Purdue is a national and global leader in discovery and innovation.

Centers and Institutes and Research Cores all seek to support and enhance the research and partnership enterprise at Purdue University.

Centers and Institutes are valued and encouraged at Purdue. They create a venue for faculty to come together to pursue common goals. Additional opportunities for joint projects and funding are created as investigators interact. Currently, there are more than 100 University approved centers and institutes at Purdue. Each center was developed to fill a particular need.

• Discovery Park centers provide infrastructure and project support to the entire University, encouraging multidisciplinary groups to coalesce and respond to grand challenges and opportunities.
• Externally funded project Centers or Institutes are typically organized around a specific objective. They may have a natural lifespan tied to the project period, but may also transition to sustainable, ongoing activities after the project ends.
• Grassroots Centers or Institutes vary in size and arise from faculty initiatives; they are frequently nurtured and supported by academic departments.

Research Cores provide access to instrumentation, equipment and facilities (including databases), software, or professional expertise in the design and conduct of specialized measurements, analysis and interpretation of data, and research collaboration. To be considered a university-level research core, research resources should be broadly available to investigators and research teams across the University and should have a business plan or model (academic unit/center backed, recharge, project-by-project funding, etc.). Many Cores are available to and encourage requests for assistance from external users.