A joint research facility to advance innovative technologies is being established by Raytheon and the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Raytheon said it is committing $3 million to the Raytheon-UMass Lowell Research Institute project, with options to $5 million throughout the next 10 years.

"The creation of the RURI presents a tangible opportunity to advance the research and the learning of technologies under development for students and employees alike and will inspire future engineers and drive innovation," said Dan Crowley, president of Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business.

The institution will feature laboratories and classrooms that will serve as a launch pad for collaboration and learning among UMass Lowell faculty and students and Raytheon employees.

Initial research will focus on radar and communication systems technologies and will leverage UMass Lowell's strengths in printed electronics and nanotechnology to meet Raytheon's strategic technology needs. Among those needs are high-frequency printed conformal antennas, carbon-based transistors and photonic devices, Raytheon said.

"As a co-directed, co-located research environment, the RURI signifies a unique opportunity for Raytheon's university partnerships," said Mark E. Russell, Raytheon vice president of Engineering, Technology and Mission Assurance. "The RURI will serve as an extension of our current research capabilities and represents a resource across the Raytheon enterprise for the study of advanced materials and flexible circuit technologies, such as printable electronics and nanotechnology."

The joint facility is to be located in the Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center on the UMass Lowell campus.