Keaton PetersTwo research powerhouses in the Mountain West are teaming up. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Boise State University have forged a five-year research partnership designed to advance critical energy and security technologies, with a focus on developing materials for withstanding extreme environments and creating more resilient energy systems. The Strategic Understanding for Premier Education and Research (SUPER) agreements will unite researchers from both institutions to tackle urgent national priorities in energy infrastructure and cybersecurity.
The partnership builds on decades of collaboration between INL, which has been in operation since 1949, and Idaho’s universities. Under the new framework, Battelle Energy Alliance, which manages INL for the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, will work with Boise State to accelerate innovations.
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The electric grid and America’s cyber networks are prime targets for bad actors seeking to disrupt society, and this collaboration looks to strengthen U.S. technological leadership. The research focuses on developing materials that can withstand extreme conditions in energy production and creating more robust defenses against cyber threats to critical infrastructure.
One major focus area involves developing advanced materials. Researchers will work on creating new materials capable of withstanding intense conditions like ultra-high temperatures, extreme pressures and radiation exposure. This includes developing high-entropy alloys and radiation-resistant materials crucial for nuclear reactors and advanced microelectronics.
The second key research thrust centers on secure and resilient energy systems. This work will incorporate artificial intelligence and advanced computing to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats. The research will explore how to make energy systems more resilient to disruptions while defending against cyberattacks that could compromise government and industry networks.
In a press release, INL Director John Wagner said, “research in the areas that we have identified today is critical to accelerating our nation’s energy, manufacturing and technology sectors for the benefit of the American people.”
The collaboration will leverage facilities and expertise from both institutions, combining INL’s national laboratory capabilities with Boise State’s academic research strengths. Existing research programs in nuclear energy and high-performance computing will continue and potentially expand under the enhanced partnership framework.
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