Software Engineering Institute

Stop on Carnegie Mellon University, a free self-guided tour.

The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is one of Carnegie Mellon's most impactful research centers - a federally funded research and development center operated by CMU under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. Founded in 1984, the SEI was created to advance the practice of software engineering and has had a profound influence on how software is developed, tested, and secured across the global technology industry. The SEI developed the Capability Maturity Model (CMM), which became the standard worldwide framework for software development quality. The CERT Division within the SEI is a world leader in cybersecurity research and incident response, working at the intersection of academic research and national security. The SEI exemplifies CMU's distinctive strength in translating rigorous academic research into large-scale, real-world impact.