Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES)

The Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) was a research and education consortium between the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Boise State University, Idaho State University, and the University of Idaho. It was conceived in 2005 to allow the world-class research assets at INL to act as a catalyst for the students and faculty at the universities. By leveraging these collective capabilities and working together, CAES collaborations inspired innovation and positively impacted all parties involved.

On June 30, 2025, the consortium agreement ended, and efforts are now in motion for the universities and INL to engage in new collaborative opportunities under a series of Strategic Understanding for Premier Education and Research (SUPER) agreements. The agreements will allow the lab and universities to explore deeper research collaborations and expand opportunities for students, faculty members and researchers.

These agreements have the following individualized focus areas leveraging the capabilities and expertise of the institutions:

Boise State University

  • Advanced materials and manufacturing
  • Secure and resilient energy systems

Idaho State University

  • Critical and strategic materials and minerals
  • Environmental sustainability and security

University of Idaho

  • Nuclear materials and fuel cycle engineering
  • Power cybersecurity systems and engineering
  • Nuclear integrated energy systems, with cross-cutting areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning across each research area

Learn more about INL’s SUPER agreements.

Idaho National Laboratory