The agreement, which still is subject to Board of Regents approval, sets up an Applied Research Laboratory that would provide UH scientists' expertise in astronomy, oceanography, advanced electro-optics systems and communications systems, according to the university.

The laboratory would be funded for three years, with an option for renewal for an additional two years. It's estimated that a maximum of $10 million per year in "task orders" by the Navy and other federal entities would be funded.

In February 2006, UH president David McClain recommended that the Applied Research Laboratory be established at the UH system level, rather than at UH-Manoa, and that the laboratory not perform any classified task orders during the first three years of its establishment.

Critics had been concerned about classified weapons research, while proponents argued that a university-affiliated research center would bring millions in research funding and prestige to the university.

The contract and other information about the Applied Research Laboratory are at www.hawaii.edu/arl.