Chartered in late 2007, IRON, Inc. is a cooperative effort between universities located in the Northwest region of the United States, the State of Idaho, the Idaho Hospital Association, and the INL (Idaho National Laboratory) to establish a high-performance Regional Optical Network (RON) within the State of Idaho. The first IRON Board of Directors meeting among Charter Associates was conducted on January 31, 2008 where goals were defined and a charter was adopted. Since that time, significant interest has developed from surrounding states which recognize Boise is a strategically located Pacific Northwest and Intermountain interconnect site.

Additional objectives of IRON include enabling research, education, healthcare, and other institutions to collaborate effectively with other counterparts in Idaho, as well as nationally and internationally. IRON will also become Idaho's voice to other regional optical networks in the West, Northwest, and Midwest.

Advantages and benefits of establishing a high-performance computing network within Idaho include improving technological access throughout the state as well as support for large scale research. IRON will also support the continued strengthening of Idaho's economy as the backbone for a solid computing infrastructure.