About
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers
FFRDCs assist the U.S. government with scientific research and analysis, systems development, and systems acquisition. To ensure objectivity and technical excellence, FFRDCs are organized as independent, not-for-profit entities.
Lincoln Laboratory emphasizes meeting the government’s FFRDC goals of providing independent perspective on critical issues, maintaining long-term competency, retaining high-quality staff, sustaining strategic sponsor relationships, and developing technology for both long-term interests and short-term, high-priority needs.
Currently 37 FFRDCs work in the fields of defense, energy, aviation, space, health and human services, and tax administration. All FFRDCs are sponsored by government agencies with whom they work as strategic partners, but they are privately administered by universities and other not-for-profit organizations.
The following FFRDCs, including MIT Lincoln Laboratory, are sponsored by the Department of Defense:
- Aerospace Federally Funded Research and Development Center (The Aerospace Corporation), El Segundo, California
- Arroyo Center (RAND Corp.), Santa Monica, California
- C3I Federally Funded Research & Development Center (MITRE Corp.), Bedford, Massachusetts, and McLean, Virginia
- Center for Naval Analyses (The CNA Corporation), Alexandria, Virginia
- Institute for Defense Analyses Studies and Analyses FFRDC (Institute for Defense Analyses), Alexandria, Virginia
- Lincoln Laboratory (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Lexington, Massachusetts
- National Defense Research Institute (RAND Corp.), Santa Monica, California
- Project Air Force (RAND Corp.), Santa Monica, California
- Software Engineering Institute (Carnegie Mellon University), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania