Healthy Communities through Business Prosperity

The Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) is part of the College of Engineering and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations (EDIR) at Iowa State University. Since 1963, CIRAS has partnered with Iowa companies and communities to help them prosper and grow.

CIRAS aims to improve the profitability of businesses through:

Proven Services

Our customizable services are rooted in applied research and established best practices.

Engage. Educate. Embed.

Our approach ensures we deliver a service that is specific to every business. We focus on making the improvement stick and support clients even after a project ends.

Return on Investment

Our commitment to permanent improvement is backed by a satisfaction guarantee. A typical client achieves a 200% ROI – $2 return for every $1 invested.

Over the past five years, CIRAS and its partners have reported impact from companies totaling more than $3.1 billion (sales gained or retained $2.4 billion, new investments $0.5 billion, costs saved or avoided $0.2 billion) and over 38,000 jobs created or retained as a result of the assistance they received.

Vast Network

Our partnerships stretch across Iowa State University and beyond. Relationships with public and private experts enable us to deliver solutions that meet client needs.

In 2023 alone, over 2,000 businesses from all 99 Iowa counties received assistance on projects or attended educational workshops from CIRAS staff or partners. Companies responding to surveys reported a total economic impact of nearly $827 million.

 

Healthy communities through business prosperity…that’s the CIRAS vision for Iowa.