North Carolina State University (NC State) is one of four primary "Partner Institutions" for the Horticulture Innovation Lab. 

Experts at each partner institution serve on the Horticulture Innovation Lab's International Advisory Board, and students from these universities are invited to participate in Trellis Fund projects.

In 2014-2019, the Horticulture Innovation Lab's four partner institutions are:

• NC State
• University of California, Davis
• University of Hawai’i at Mānoa 
• University of Florida