When South Dakota's 2010 Initiative was created in 2003, one of its primary components (Goal 3) was to become a recognized leader in research and technology development by 2010.

In 2004, the State of South Dakota developed nationally competitive research centers of excellence focused on discoveries with commercial potential and collaborating with industry partners. To date, the state has committed to invest $30 million into 10 research centers.

The South Dakota research centers are:

• South Dakota Signal Transduction Center
  
  

  The South Dakota Signal Transduction Center examines the pathways that regulate cell growth and differentiation, death, response to stress, and maintenance of constant physiological conditions in and effort to develop new methods to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease and cancer.

• Center for Infectious Disease Research and Vaccinology
  
  

  This center focuses on development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic technologies and products for infectious disease in humans and domestic animals.

• Center for Research and Development of Light-Activated Materials
  
  

  The CRDLM focuses on harnessing the energy of light and transforming it into new chemical bonds, signals, electricity and ultra thin films.

• Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development
  
  

  The CBRD is focused on the development of innovative processes to convert biomass into ethanol and high-value chemicals.

• Center of Excellence for Drought Tolerance Biotechnology
  
  

  This center is focused on developing and speeding to market drought and temperature tolerant crops.

• National Center for the Protection of the Financial Infrastructure
  
  

  The mission of the National Center for the Protection of the Financial Infrastructure is to advance the security and safety of the nation’s financial infrastructure through research, education and outreach.

• Center for Detecting Rare Physics Processes with Ultra-Low Background Experiments at Sanford Lab/DUSEL
  
  

  This center is focused on supporting and enabling physics research at the Sanford Laboratory and Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) at Homestake.

• Translational Cancer Research Center
  
  

  The mission of the Translation Cancer Research Center, through collaboration between basic and clinical scientists, is to develop a center of excellence in translation cancer research with a focus on underserved rural and Native American populations.

• Center for the Biological Control and Analysis by Applied Photonics
  
  

  This center's mission is to facilitate excellence in research, support and dissemination of medically useful drugs, therapies, and technologies based on the application of applied photonics at the molecular level.

• Repair, Refurbish, and Return to Service – Applied Research Center
  
  

  The mission of the R3S-ARC is to develop and certify innovative material processing methods for repairing, refurbishing and extending the useful life of Department of Defense as well as private sector equipment.