National Science Foundation's (NSF) Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Advanced Knowledge Enablement (CAKE) is a consortium of faculty groups at universities (Hosts), which groups have the status of a Site of CAKE by virtue of an NSF award (Award) of said status. Each said Award names the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Award and designates said PI as the Site Director. An Award designating a Site as the lead site designates the Site's Site Director as CAKE Director.

NSF funding instruments for the Site include NSF directives (Directives) as to the activities of the Site, which directives may be explicit in the instruments or by reference to NSF documents and the proposals awarded.

CAKE is guided by its Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) comprised of representatives of entities that have a status of Members of CAKE by virtue of an agreement (Agreement) with a Host or pursuant to NSF directives. Each Member contributes membership fees or in-kind value to one or more Sites of CAKE.

Revenues of each Site are comprised of NSF funding that NSF designates as funding for the Site and of fees that Members contribute to the Site.

NSF Directives determine the discretion of the IAB, of CAKE Director, and of Site Directors.

IAB convenes and issues guidances in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

Each Site Director manages the research activities of the Site and the expenditures thereof and revenues therefor, consistent with the general research award management policies of the Host university and within the constraints imposed by NSF directives and pursuant to the IAB guidances within the discretion accorded by NSF directives to IAB, CAKE Director, and Site Director.

Upon expiration of a Member's agreement (”Agreement”) with a host university concerning membership in the I/UCRC-CAKE (”Center”), if the Member continues contributing membership fees in cash or in kind to any host university (FIU or FAU) (”Host”) at the annual value of $50000 or $5000 in case of a small business, and said Host accepts said contribution, then the Member shall be deemed an active member of the Center with all the privileges and obligations pursuant to the Bylaws of the Center and the Membership Agreement, excepting the expiration clause therein.