About
- History ›
- Organization ›
- Facilities ›
- Field Sites ›
- Lincoln Laboratory / MIT Interactions ›
- Technology Transfer ›
- Professional Society
Fellows › - Guidance for Sponsors/Customers Utilizing the Air Force Contract ›
- Code of Conduct/Conflicts of Interest ›
- Small Business Office ›
- Visitor Information / Directions ›
- Laboratory Status ›
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the Department of Defense. FFRDCs assist the U.S. government with scientific research and analysis, systems development, and systems acquisition to provide novel, cost-effective solutions to complex government problems.
To ensure objectivity and technical excellence, FFRDCs are organized as independent, not-for-profit entities, prohibited from manufacturing products, competing with industry, or working for commercial companies. They combine the expertise and outlook of government, industry, and academia.
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. Lincoln Laboratory supports its government sponsors with a full spectrum of planning and concept development in specific missions and core competencies.
Currently 42 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.
Other FFRDCs sponsored by the Department of Defense include
- Aerospace Federally Funded Research and Development Center (The Aerospace Corporation), El Segundo, California
- Arroyo Center (RAND Corp.), Santa Monica, California
- Center for Communications and Computing (Institute for Defense Analyses), offices in Princeton, New Jersey; La Jolla, California; and Bowie, Maryland
- Center for Naval Analyses (The CNA Corporation), Alexandria, Virginia
- National Defense Research Institute (RAND Corp.), Santa Monica, California
- National Security Engineering Center (MITRE Corp.), Bedford, Massachusetts, and McLean, Virginia
- Project Air Force (RAND Corp.), Santa Monica, California
- Software Engineering Institute (Carnegie Mellon University), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Systems and Analyses Center (Institute for Defense Analyses), Alexandria, Virginia
top of page