For First Responders and Warfighters

We help protect those who protect our communities — and country — by strengthening armor, improving thermal protective gear and lightening the load of their equipment.

#1 in the UNC System

With $49M in annual expenditures, NC State boasts the largest Department of Defense research portfolio among all UNC System schools, according to NSF HERD survey data.

20 DoD-supported Startups

A total of 20 companies have received SBIR/STTR awards — worth $120M+ overall — from the Department of Defense to commercialize NC State-owned intellectual property.

#2 Economic Sector in N.C.

Defense is the second-largest sector of the North Carolina economy, generating more than $65 billion statewide each year.

Personal Perception of Body Movement Changes When Using Robotic Prosthetics

The way we understand the movement of our own bodies plays an important role when learning physical skills. A recent study found that this phenomenon works very differently for people learning to use robotic prosthetic devices.

Training Firefighters on New, PFAS-free Foams

Historically, most foams used to extinguish fires caused by flammable liquids or gases contained PFAS. Decades of research have now made biodegradable foams available — and NC State is helping firefighters understand how to use them.

Revolutionary Laser Technique: Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Manufacturing

Researchers have demonstrated a new laser technique to create ceramics that can withstand ultra-high temperatures, with applications ranging from nuclear power technologies to spacecraft and jet exhaust systems.

TPACC: 30+ Years of Innovation

The Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) was founded in 1994. In the three decades since, breakthroughs made at TPACC have continually sparked innovation across the textile industry.

Fanning the flames of innovation

Fiber Batteries Promise ‘Smart Clothing’ but Two Obstacles Stand in the Way

Researchers identified two major obstacles that must be overcome before fiber batteries — which could one day be used to create smart clothing with a wide array of functions — are ready for practical applications.

command rangers during the military operation. soldiers climbing on mountain, one of them giving hand and helping to climb. Help, support, assistance in a dangerous situation

New AI Boosts Teamwork Training

Researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) framework that is better than previous technologies at analyzing and categorizing dialogue between individuals, with the goal of improving team training technologies.

Researchers Unveil Game-changing Technology to Test Thermal Wear

Improving upon NC State’s 30-year-old manikin, “Dynamic PyroMan” provides a window into how thermal wear performs in flames.

Composite Metal Foam: An Advanced Material with Many Applications

Composite metal foam (CMF) can withstand tremendous force — enough to punch a hole in a railroad tank car — including .50 caliber bullets, for example.

Made of materials such as stainless steel or titanium, CMF consists of hollow, metallic spheres embedded in a matrix of steel, aluminum or metallic alloys. The resulting material is both lightweight — much lighter than solid steel — and remarkably strong.

Learn more about CMF and its potential applications: