The Higher Education Research Council (HERC) was formed in the Fall of 1998 as a result of the Idaho State Board of Education's interest in promoting basic and applied research at Idaho's public, four-year institutions.
HERC is responsible for implementing and administering the Board's revised Higher Education Research policy and the grant programs created by it, which are designed to stimulate competitive research at Idaho's institutions. HERC has worked diligently to attract projects that serve to strengthen the research capabilities and contribute to the economic development of the state of Idaho.
The Higher Education Research Council recommends that funds be provided to establish focused research centers, which provide the facilities and staff necessary to conduct intensive research at a nationally competitive level and for leveraging extramural research funding. The Research Center Grant Program (RCGP) is a competitive program held every three years. Idaho’s four-year public institutions are eligible for this grant program.
FY11 RFP for Research Center Grant Program
The State Board of Education has funded seven research centers through this grant program. The most recent recipient of the research center grant was awarded to Boise State University for their Institute for Musculoskeletal Research.
Center for Geophysical Investigation of the Shallow Subsurface (BSU)
Institute for Musculoskeletal Research (BSU) - currently funded
Center for Ecological Research and Education (ISU)
Idaho Accelerator Center (ISU)
Center for Hazardous Waste Remediation Research (UI)
Institute for Materials & Advanced Processes (UI)
Center for Research on Invasive Species and Small Populations (UI)