Centers of Excellence and Academia

Two men on a watercraft throwing a device into green-ish water. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) partners with a host of academic, national laboratory and research organizations across the nation to address specific homeland security topics and threats. Our Centers of Excellence program harnesses the innovation of America’s universities for homeland security research, development and education to deliver tools, technologies, knowledge products, training and expertise to the Homeland Security Enterprise. Their contributions help shape the future of homeland security and provide operators with targeted insight on specific areas of concern. Working with partners from industry, DHS S&T, DHS components, national laboratories, other federal agencies, state and local homeland security agencies, and first responders, our university-led Centers of Excellence bring innovation to operations, develop the current and future homeland security science and engineering workforce, and help ensure the Homeland Security Enterprise is prepared to address new challenges.

Current Programs and Projects

For additional COE specific program and projects, Search our project database at: https://www.hsuniversityprograms.org/

Arctic Domain Awareness
Maritime Security
Borders, Trade, and Immigration
Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis
Coastal Resilience
Explosives Detection
Terrorism Studies
Critical Infrastructure Resilience
Operational Efficiency
Data & Visual Analytics
Animal Disease Defense
Risk & Economic Analysis
Food Defense
Workforce and Professional Development Initiatives
The Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Program

Available Technologies and Projects

S&T and its academic partners have:

Developed more than 100 targeted tools, technologies, and knowledge products through COEs for use across the homeland security enterprise.
Performed targeted research for 11 DHS components and offices and five other federal agencies, which have contributed over $100 million in supplemental COE investments.
Attracted more than $330 million in additional funding from external sources for homeland security research, development, and education.
Placed 438 students in summer internships since 2008 to conduct research in DHS mission-relevant research areas at federal research facilities located across the country.
Awarded 63 career development grants to universities plus 289 fellowships and 256 scholarships to individuals.

For fact sheets and videos about some of these tools and technologies https://www.hsuniversityprograms.org/about/resource-library/