Welcome to Colorado School of Mines’ Office of Research and Technology Transfer. Research at Mines has always been inspired by the changing needs of society and has driven the creation of new technologies to address those needs. Mines is a top-tier research university, and recognized as an R1 highly research-active institution by the Carnegie Classification. Mines is a national and global leader in key fields of research and scholarship, and a preferred partner to industry, governments, and academia around the world. Since its founding in 1874 to address the technology and talent requirements of the economy, Mines has maintained an enduring mission for foundational and use-inspired research and technology transfer. Today, Mines is characterized by:

an inclusive culture of excellence in research and innovation – interdisciplinary and collaborative, creating positive societal impact. 

Because of our historical roots in gold and silver mining, Mines is widely known for our geological and earth resource-related work, but the reality today is far greater. Our motto, “Earth, Energy, Environment,” does not constrain the type of research we do; rather, it highlights the types of problems – highly complex, often under-determined, and dynamic – that we like to solve. The collective talent of our faculty and students, combined with a culture of use-inspired and transdisciplinary research, are at the core of Mines’ success and enable a host of strong alliances with industry, other universities, and government institutions. In particular, a history of entrepreneurial faculty and students focused on transitioning new technologies to industry ensures that we keep our eyes on our mission: research for the benefit of society. I am confident you will find on our website a sense of the vitality, diversity, and problem-focused philosophy of Mines research, from discovery to invention to solutions.

WALTER COPAN  |  Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer