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2 Overview What is EPSCoR? What is EPSCoR? Why is EPSCoR important? Why is EPSCoR important? EPSCoR in North Dakota EPSCoR in North Dakota

3 What is EPSCoR? The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research is an initiative designed to improve competitiveness for merit-based science and technology research

4 Why is EPSCoR important?

5 Historical Development of the National Academic Research Enterprise Federal R & D funds were concentrated in a small number of institutions and states that were postured to capitalize on dramatic post-WW II growth in academic research. Federal R & D funds were concentrated in a small number of institutions and states that were postured to capitalize on dramatic post-WW II growth in academic research. Concentration of federal R & D funds was exacerbated by a national science policy that focused resources on existing centers of excellence. Concentration of federal R & D funds was exacerbated by a national science policy that focused resources on existing centers of excellence.

6 EPSCoR States

7 Characteristics of States with Small Science & Technology Enterprises Low Population Low Population Low average level of education (particularly Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers) Low average level of education (particularly Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers) Low average income Low gross state product (dependent only on a few sectors)

8 The EPSCoR Promise Access to high-quality education Access to high-quality education Front-line research Front-line research Expanded economic opportunities Expanded economic opportunities Improved quality of life Improved quality of life Diversify the nation’s scientific enterprise and assure that states and residents in all parts of the country benefit from an active and competitive R & D base; these benefits include:

9 EPSCoR in North Dakota

10 Guiding Principles Competitive Competitive Focused Focused Builds on existing strength Builds on existing strength Integrates with education and economy Integrates with education and economy

11 Strategy to Develop a Sustainable, Nationally Competitive S & T Enterprise Develop and expand research infrastructure Develop and expand research infrastructure Develop and expand capabilities for science, engineering, and mathematics research for faculty and students Develop and expand capabilities for science, engineering, and mathematics research for faculty and students Facilitate technology transfer and commercialization Facilitate technology transfer and commercialization

12 ND EPSCoR Programs Infrastructure Improvement Faculty expertise/funding opportunities database Faculty expertise/funding opportunities database State-of-the-art instrumentation State-of-the-art instrumentation Advanced education and training of over 500 graduate students Advanced education and training of over 500 graduate students Critical role in hiring 96 new faculty Critical role in hiring 96 new faculty Initial support for research projects leading to external funding Initial support for research projects leading to external funding

13 ND EPSCoR Programs Science Outreach and Recruitment Undergraduate programs benefit student careers Undergraduate programs benefit student careers Faculty at 4-year institutions obtain research experience Faculty at 4-year institutions obtain research experience ND Tribal Colleges enrich their science and mathematics curricula ND Tribal Colleges enrich their science and mathematics curricula

14 ND EPSCoR Programs Technology Transfer and Commercialization Develop ground position systems (GPS) for agricultural production. Ag Advantage, Grand Forks Develop ground position systems (GPS) for agricultural production. Ag Advantage, Grand Forks Assist in design of just-in-time continuous manufacturing assembly line. Alloway Industries, Fargo Assist in design of just-in-time continuous manufacturing assembly line. Alloway Industries, Fargo Analyze waste factors, improve processing, and modernize packaging. Dakota Growers Pasta, Carrington Analyze waste factors, improve processing, and modernize packaging. Dakota Growers Pasta, Carrington Develop client administration database and application programs. ComMark, Inc., Mayville Develop client administration database and application programs. ComMark, Inc., Mayville Students in Technology Transfer and Research

15 ND EPSCoR Programs Technology Transfer and Commercialization Through our Faculty in Technology Transfer Program, faculty collaborate with ND to solve intensive high- technology problems. Dr. Selmer Moen (MiSU) assisted Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing with the development of aircraft test flight circuit boards. Dr. Cliff Staples (UND) conducted a census of businesses to determine plans and responses to the flood disaster—providing critical information for tracking the recovery effort.

16 ND EPSCoR Programs Technology Transfer and Commercialization “STTAR students come from college with up-to-date skills which are crucial to our satellite imagery business. They take the pressure off me and helped us become a successful company in our initial year of operation.” Rodney Faleide, Co-owner AgriImiGIS, Maddock, ND “The Students we’ve employed through STTAR are a contributing factor to our success” David Hagert, President, Agridata, Inc., Grand Forks, ND

17 ND EPSCoR Programs Technology Transfer and Commercialization Stimulating New High Technology Businesses Michael Chambers, inspired as an EPSCoR-supported undergraduate, explored DNA technologies with seed funds and established and is CEO of, Aldevron a biotechnology company in Fargo. Dr. Greg Gillispie and his former graduate student, Randy St. Germain, established Dakota Technologies, Inc. (DTI) in Fargo in 1993 to accelerate commercialization of their laser technology. DTI’s workforce has grown to nearly 20 employees.

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19 EPSCoR’s Strategy is Consistent with the Roundtable “The research foundation on which entrepreneurial activity will necessarily be based must be expanded… “To this end, the state should maximize the opportunities of EPSCoR funding available through Congress to assist in developing research and technology infrastructure” Cornerstone 1. The Economic Development Connection

20 ND EPSCoR Partners State of North Dakota State of North Dakota Federal Research Agencies (NSF, NIH, EPA, NASA, DOD, DOE, USDA) Federal Research Agencies (NSF, NIH, EPA, NASA, DOD, DOE, USDA) Regional businesses Regional businesses

21 Progress Through EPSCoR — An Overview Increased publication rate Increased publication rate Increased proposal submission Increased proposal submission Increased success rate for individual PI awards Increased success rate for individual PI awards

22 Progress Through EPSCoR — Highlights of Recent Accomplishments : Total NSF funding, % change : (2 nd highest in nation) Total NSF funding, % change : 307% (2 nd highest in nation) Average funding rate for competitive NSF proposals, % change between and : (2 nd highest in nation) Average funding rate for competitive NSF proposals, % change between and : 26.5% (2 nd highest in nation) Total number of competitive NSF awards, % change % (2 nd highest in nation) Twelve NSF CAREER awards were received by EPSCoR-supported PIs since 1998

23 Progress Through EPSCoR — The long-term impact: The state’s per capita ranking in NSF funding increased from (representing the greatest improvement of all EPSCoR states ranked in 1986) The state’s per capita ranking in NSF funding increased from 52 nd in 1986 to 27 th in 2000 (representing the greatest improvement of all EPSCoR states ranked in 1986) The state’s overall investment of in external awards to EPSCoR-supported researchers The state’s overall investment of $14.1M has resulted in over $100M in external awards to EPSCoR-supported researchers $14.1 Million $100 Million ND Cash Total Awards Investment Return on Investment ( )

24 Economic Impact Enhanced capabilities of existing businesses Enhanced capabilities of existing businesses Facilitated establishment of new businesses Facilitated establishment of new businesses Expanded economic growth from increased academic enterprise Expanded economic growth from increased academic enterprise

25 Economic Impact of Academic Research Over $100 million in new money since 1986 Over $230 million total impact on ND economy Over $16.7 million in tax revenues Source: F. Larry Leistritz, Ph.D., NDSU Dept. of Agribusiness & Applied Economics, 2000 Direct Impact Indirect Impact Total Impact $78,000 $152,000 $230,000 Impact of Typical $100K Research Grant

26 ND EPSCoR Panel Building University-Industry Partnerships Senator Joel Heitkamp Representative Ken Svedjan Dr. Clinton Kopp, President of III Corp, Bismarck, ND Dr. John Hurt, Program Director, NSF Mr. Marc Stanley, Acting Director, Advanced Technology Program, USDoC

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