Dalrymple Highlights North Dakota's Research Strengths, Opportunities

Press Release

Gov. Jack Dalrymple today highlighted North Dakota's research capabilities and outlined future plans for Research ND at the Enhancing North Dakota's Success Symposium in Fargo. The event, which included university and business officials, was sponsored by the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Research and Technology Park as part of its efforts to develop a strategic plan that identifies new areas of opportunity, investment and growth.

"Partnering with our research institutions and private-sector companies to generate jobs and new business opportunities is vital to the future of our state," Dalrymple said. "It is important for us to continue to aggressively pursue research in our state's target industries, helping businesses uncover promising new opportunities to help keep our economy growing and to continue to create exciting career options for our citizens, especially our young people. Research ND is the next level of research development in North Dakota and will play an integral role in advancing our research and innovation capabilities."

Research ND, proposed by Dalrymple and funded by the 2013 Legislature, creates economic activity through the development of new technologies. Through the program, private partners have the opportunity to leverage their research, development and commercialization funds to gain access to the extensive research base of North Dakota's research universities. By providing matching dollars to the universities, Research ND assists private partners in performing research, development and commercialization of specific projects.

During this past legislative session, $12 million was appropriated for the Research ND fund. Of that total, $2 million was designated to support the commercialization of intellectual property developed at North Dakota's research universities through spinoffs or startup companies locating in the state; $4 million was designated to fund research projects to commercialize treatments for cancer and other virally infectious diseases; and $6 million to fund research development and commercialization activities related to private-sector businesses across all industry sectors.

Joining Dalrymple in addressing the symposium attendees were NDSU President Dean Bresciani, NDSU Provost J. Bruce Raffert and Kelly Rusch, vice president for research and creative activity at NDSU. Eva Klein, president of Eva Klein and Associates out of Washington, D.C., provided information regarding current trends and activities at universities across the country in the areas of research, innovation and economic development.

Source