Purdue University has 137 university-approved institutes and centers and create spaces for faculty to accelerate research and innovation. The Institutes and Centers at Discovery Park District allow for multidisciplinary groups to collaborate. University-recognized centers are large project centers or institutes, generally funded by outside agencies. They are organized around a specific objective and have a natural lifespan. Grassroots centers or institutes vary in size and are formed from faculty initiatives, and are frequently funded by departments.