The Board of Regents Support Fund R & D Program includes two components: the Research Competitiveness Subprogram (RCS) and the Industrial Ties Research Subprogram (ITRS).

The RCS funds proposals that strengthen the fundamental research base and competitiveness of Louisiana's public and private universities. Research proposed under this subprogram should make fundamental and basic contributions to knowledge in the eligible scientific and engineering disciplines rather than simply seek to apply existing knowledge. The RCS is a stimulus program directed only toward those researchers who are at the threshold of becoming consistently competitive for funding in the Federal R & D marketplace and who show strong potential for achieving national research competitiveness within a limited time span. Established or heavily funded researchers and research groups, unless moving into a new field of research, are unlikely to be competitive in this subprogram. Junior researchers at the threshold of national research competitiveness will be given preference over senior researchers who are changing fields.

The ITRS funds research proposals that show significant near-term potential for contributing to the development and diversification of Louisiana's economy. The ITRS is also a stimulus program. Accordingly, all proposals should (a) involve significant private sector or Federal funding or, at a minimum, include a plan to leverage substantial Federal or private sector funding in the near future; and (b) demonstrate how the proposed research will result in the establishment of a new or the enhancement of an existing Louisiana business or industry.