UNC-Chapel Hill:

Centers and Institutes

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Knowledge and Value for North Carolina

Solving today's toughest problems requires many different kinds of knowledge. Research centers and institutes bring together the right mix of expertise to answer the big questions in science and society. A strong center or institute provides the infrastructure and support services necessary to help these teams of scholars and scientists produce their best work.

When they join a center or institute, faculty members typically retain their appointments in traditional, discipline-based departments, continuing to teach students and mentor graduate students. By carrying new knowledge back to their home departments, these faculty members help keep their disciplines current and vital.

Research centers and institutes also help the state's economy, because their ability to address real-world problems in a comprehensive manner attracts external funding and helps North Carolina compete for economic-development opportunities. In short, a thriving research center or institute is a powerful force for new ideas and beneficial change.

Fact sheet on the value of OVCRED centers and institutes (PDF)