The Galactic Research Academy, a center for education and a vast repository of knowledge gathered from scholars and scientists throughout the galaxy, was situated on the planet Koaan. A key function involved handling data from scouting missions; when a scouting team discovered a planet, they would transmit their findings to the Academy. Ideally, this information would be processed there in preparation for study or colonization, but a backlog of data always existed. Under the Empire, this procedure slowed significantly, as scouting and exploration became a lower priority. Consequently, massive amounts of data accumulated without being processed. To oversee the Academy, the Empire also stationed several stormtroopers and officers there.
The Academy was structured with various levels, featuring the main library above ground, while a significant portion of the unprocessed data was stored underground. The Academy featured several outdoor courtyards for its predominantly Human staff.
Mammon Hoole, a well-known Senior Anthropologist, was employed by the Galactic Research Academy. Following his separation from his droid, DV-9, the droid went back to Koaan to work in the data processing center. In 1 ABY, Hoole, accompanied by his wards Tash and Zak Arranda, returned to the Research Academy. They collaborated with DV-9 to steal the coordinates of an unprocessed planet, intending to use it as a hiding place.
However, Platt Okeefe and a group of smugglers who were being chased by Imperials similarly infiltrated the facility. Okeefe shot the Imperial clerk on duty, Deputy Strey, only to then encounter Hoole and his group. Realizing their shared objective, they all escaped the planet aboard Okeefe's ship, the Last Chance.