Life Sciences Action Summit 3 – February 19, 2010

The Red River Valley Research Corridor and U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan are pleased to announce that a third action summit focused on the life sciences will be held on February 19, 2010. The summit will be held at the new Hilton Garden Inn in Fargo.

Action summits facilitate learning, networking and collaboration in the region and serve as a mechanism for marketing to and connecting with key partners in business and government from outside the region in a highly focused and purposeful manner.

More news about speakers and registration will be available in the next few weeks. If you are interested in sponsoring the Life Sciences Summit, contact Delore at delore@theresearchcorridor.com or 701-775-3354.

STEM Occupations are Growing in the Region

Regional growth in the Corridor science and technology-based economy is translating to more science, technology, engineering, and mathematics job opportunities in the Red River Valley.

Led by physical and life science occupations, the STEM category of occupations (see chart) has added more than 2,200 jobs for 35% growth since 2002. This is well ahead of the 8% growth in the nation for the same occupation group.

U.S. Senator Dorgan Co-Sponsors Building a Stronger America Act

Building a Stronger America Act amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to award grants for the development of feasibility studies and plans for the construction of new or expansion of existing science parks. Allows the Secretary to guarantee up to 80% of the loan amount for loans exceeding $10 million for projects for the construction of such infrastructure.

Grindberg Joins AURP Board

Tony Grindberg, Executive Director of the NDSU Research and Technology Park has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of University Research Parks.

The Association of University Research Parks is a professional association of university related research and science parks. AURP’s mission is to foster innovation, commercialization and economic growth through university, industry and government partnerships. For more information, visit AURP’s Web site at www.aurp.net.

Red River Velley Research Corridor History

In early 2002, Senator Byron Dorgan convened a meeting with the Presidents of North Dakota’s state universities and colleges to propose a bold new program to draw millions of Federal research dollars to North Dakota.

“Experience has shown that where there is significant federal research work going on, new jobs and new businesses begin to cluster in order to provide commercial applications for the result of that work,” Dorgan said. “I think this can be a very big and important part of North Dakota’s economic future.”

Dorgan envisioned the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks and North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo anchoring the research corridor, and then reaching out and working cooperatively with state colleges and universities throughout the state.

That first step has stimulated a cycle of Federal research and economic development in North Dakota and is helping to develop the State’s major universities into world-class research institutions. Since 2002 more than $300 million of funding has been directed to North Dakota to build world class research centers, support our growing high tech sector, build critical infrastructure and specialized facilities, and train skilled workers for emerging industries.

Red River Valley Research Corridor Coordinating Center

Senator Dorgan announced on March 17, 2004 the establishment of a Red River Research Corridor Coordinating Center to coordinate the region’s science and technology-based development strategy. The Center will track and work to acquire federal research funding, provide basic infrastructure support that will attract such work, and identify gaps in technology infrastructure and work to fill them. The Center will also provide links between state colleges and universities, commercialization teams, and business investment capital, and will market the state’s research and technology assets outside the region.

Dr. Delore Zimmerman, President of Praxis Strategy Group, with offices in Grand Forks and Fargo was named to serve as the Coordinator. Delore has over twenty years experience working with companies in technology and information industries, universities and local development groups. Since co-founding Praxis in 1994 the company has been awarded 8 Small Business Innovation Research Awards.

Praxis Strategy Group is a partner with the Flint Group of companies.