Eyring Research Institute (ERI) was founded as an American non-profit organization, on September 6, 1972, in Provo, Utah.

Carlyle Harmon Frank Carlyle Harmon (January 17, 1905 – March 25, 1997) was an American former head of fabrics research for Johnson and Johnson. He is best known for his patent, held jointly with Billy Gene Harper of Dow Chemical, that made the possible the pr ...

established the Eyring Research Institute with Ronald G. Hansen as President. This institute did consulting work in various areas of contract research in cooperation with

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-d ...

. Being asked by BYU to assist them with their patent policy Carlyle Harmon was in a position to make suggestions as to research projects being funded at BYU. The Utah Supreme Court terminated ERI's tax exempt status in 1979 because the Court found that ERI was not devoted to a charitable purpose. In 1979 about 96% of the ERI's work was for the government including many top-secret projects and the remaining 4% was for private organizations. ERI was given to

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The ch ...

on July 31, 1979. Then, ERI was purchased back from the LDS Church beginning on August 1, 1979, creating it as a for-profit entity. Carlyle Harmon stayed with ERI until 1988, later saying "I was squeezed out of my own Institute. I truly felt like a man without a country." Cleo Harmon, Carlyle's wife, used to work as the Secretary to the President of ERI.

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