University Research Centers specialized in defense technology(DURCs) were designed to develop fundamental knowledge and to acquire core technologies related to defense development by conducting creative and interdisciplinary research. The centers also have a function of fostering scientists and practitioners possessing defense-oriented cross-disciplinary knowledges. Since the outset of the DURC in 1994, Sixteen DURCs have been funded and eleven DURCs are now in operation. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the operational status and the performance of DURCs and to suggest ideas on improving the effectiveness of the DURC program by comparing with the Korea Excellent Research Center program and the U.S. National Science Foundation(NSF) Engineering Research Center(ERC) program.