Horizon Research
Horizon Research, Inc. is a privately-held research firm based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that conducts research, evaluation, and technical assistance for K-12 and undergraduate STEM education, funded primarily through federal grants from NSF, NIH, NASA, and the Department of Education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersChapel Hill, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Horizon Research does
Horizon Research, Inc. (HRI) is a privately-held research firm incorporated in 1987 and headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, specializing in research, evaluation, and technical assistance for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The firm operates almost entirely on a project-services model, winning competitive federal grants from agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), NASA, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in which it typically serves as either prime contractor or subcontractor. It also engages a broad coalition of universities (Harvard, Michigan State, UNC-Chapel Hill, and others), museums (American Museum of Natural History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Boston Museum of Science), R&D firms (Westat, Abt Associates, WestEd, RTI International, TERC, BSCS), foundations (Carnegie Corporation, Knowles, Math for America), and professional associations (NSTA, NCTM, AAAS).
HRI's product surface is anchored by the National Survey of Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering Education (NSSME+), a longitudinal K-12 STEM status survey the firm has administered at regular intervals since 1977. Adjacent offerings include ASSET (a web-based pedagogical content knowledge resource for elementary science teachers), TL4CS (a teacher professional development program integrating citizen science such as CoCoRaHS and the Lost Ladybug Project), CASCADE (NSF ITEST-funded simulation modules for STEM career engagement in informal learning environments), and PHEds (an NSF RAPID study on K-12 science teachers' roles during the COVID-19 pandemic). The organization also provides external evaluation services to a wide range of federally funded projects. Its underlying capability is methodological - survey design, evaluation framework construction, and curriculum research - rather than software or platform development; no proprietary technology products, apps, APIs, or AI systems are evident.
The firm is independent, with no parent company, outside investors, or disclosed M&A activity. Leadership is led by President Daniel J. Heck and Vice President Eric R. Banilower, supported by senior researchers and a ~19-person professional staff. Go-to-market is sales-led but non-commercial: HRI's "selling motion" is the federal grant competition and direct partnership cultivation with universities, museums, and education nonprofits. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and there are no certifications, patents, trademarks, or recent structural changes (acquisitions, restructurings, or leadership transitions) indicated in the source material.
Horizon Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Horizon Research
- Legal name
- Horizon Research, Inc.
- Website
- https://horizon-research.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Horizon Research, Inc. is a privately-held research firm based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that conducts research, evaluation, and technical assistance for K-12 and undergraduate STEM education, funded primarily through federal grants from NSF, NIH, NASA, and the Department of Education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Horizon Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Research Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)
Keywords
Where Horizon Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chapel Hill
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Horizon Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Federal Grant Funding: Primary revenue source through competitive grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), NASA, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. HRI serves as prime contractor or subcontractor on research and evaluation projects in STEM education.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Horizon Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Horizon Research, Inc. is a private research firm specializing in research, evaluation, and technical assistance related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. The firm conducts external program evaluation for federally funded education projects, partners on research studies, and produces large-scale national surveys such as the NSSME+. Services are delivered primarily to government agencies (NSF, NIH, NASA, Department of Education), universities, museums, and nonprofit education organizations.
Product overview
Horizon Research is a private research firm specializing in research and evaluation services related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The company's offerings include external evaluation services for funded educational projects, research partnerships, and several notable products: ASSET (a web-based pedagogical content knowledge resource for elementary science teachers), NSSME+ (the National Survey of Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering Education conducted since 1977), TL4CS (a teacher professional development program for integrating citizen science into classrooms), CASCADE (simulation modules for STEM career exploration), and PHEds (a research study on science teachers' roles during COVID-19). The company works with diverse clients including nonprofits, professional organizations, research institutions, and universities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Research and Evaluation Services
Companies that use Horizon Research
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Horizon Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Horizon Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Westat Inc.corePartner organization on the 2027 National Survey of Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering Education (NSSME+). Westat provides survey research expertise and support for data collection.
- University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of EducationcoreResearch partner on the CASCADE project, developing simulation modules for STEM career education in informal learning environments.
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and MedicinemajorHRI provides external evaluation for the Roundtable on Systemic Change in Undergraduate STEM Education, an activity of the Board on Science Education.
- Abt Associates, Inc.minorListed as a research and development collaborator/client.
- Education Development CenterminorListed as a research and development collaborator/client.
- BSCS Science LearningminorListed as a research and development collaborator on evaluation projects.
- North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencescorePartner on TL4CS (Teacher Learning for Effective School-Based Citizen Science) project, contributing to citizen science curriculum development.
- American Museum of Natural HistorycorePartner on multiple evaluation projects including Space Show VII, NOYCE-AMNH, and MAT-ESRP teacher residency programs.
- National Council of Teachers of MathematicsminorListed as a professional organization collaborator.
- National Science Teaching AssociationminorListed as a professional organization collaborator.
- Harvard UniversityminorListed as a university collaborator.
- Michigan State UniversityminorListed as a university collaborator.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Horizon Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Horizon Research social profiles
Digital presenceHorizon Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Horizon Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Horizon Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Horizon Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Horizon Research
What does Horizon Research do?
Horizon Research, Inc. is a private research firm specializing in research, evaluation, and technical assistance related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. The firm conducts external program evaluation for federally funded education projects, partners on research studies, and produces large-scale national surveys such as the NSSME+. Services are delivered primarily to government agencies (NSF, NIH, NASA, Department of Education), universities, museums, and nonprofit education organizations.
Is Horizon Research a public or private company?
Horizon Research is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Horizon Research founded?
Horizon Research was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Horizon Research based?
Horizon Research is headquartered in Chapel Hill, United States, in the North America region.
How does Horizon Research make money?
One revenue line is on record: federal Grant Funding.
Does Horizon Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Horizon Research.
What industry is Horizon Research in?
Horizon Research's product category is Education Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHALAE, Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom), with a secondary code of EDAEALAO, Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8700.