URA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) academic consortium composed of over 90 premier research universities headquartered in Washington, DC, supporting government lab management and operation in the national interest. Founded in 1965, URA was created at the behest of the National Academy of Sciences to "provide a national basis" for the management and operation of the proposed 200 GeV proton accelerator. Today, URA participates in laboratory management and operation at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory through the Fermi Research Alliance (FRA) and Sandia National Laboratories in partnership with the National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS). In addition, URA also receives funding from the National Science Foundation as part of the U.S. share for continuing operations at Pierre August Observatory.

Mission:
To establish and operate in the national interest, unique laboratories and facilities for research, development, and education in the physical and biological sciences to expand the frontiers of knowledge, foster innovation, and promote the education of future generations of scientists. 

Membership:
URA has over 90 member universities from across the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. URA connects the expertise and scientific talent of member universities to national laboratories through scholarships and academic programs, data analysis of the current research landscape, and engagement with university leadership. Research and development areas include engineering and the physical sciences such as high-energy physics.

Universities Research Association

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