CAES is a research, education, and innovation consortium consisting of the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory and the public research universities of Idaho: Boise State University, Idaho State University, and University of Idaho. CAES harnesses the power of collaboration, closely integrating the universities and national laboratory to solve critical energy challenges while providing workforce training opportunities and encouraging economic development in communities throughout the region. CAES accomplishes this through cutting-edge research and programming that pair university students with INL researchers and industry partners.

INL is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s complex of national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of the strategic goal areas of DOE: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation’s laboratory for nuclear energy research and development.