1/11/01
SDSU tours technology park
Representatives from South Dakota State University, Brookings, came to campus and toured the new NDSU Research and Technology Park Jan. 11, seeking input for a proposed project near their own campus.
"Our NDSU project has attracted quite a bit of attention," said Philip Boudjouk, vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer. "We have a situation that is particularly fortuitous for the successful early stages of developing a research park."
Boudjouk said the park being contiguous to NDSU and having access to its 10,000 students, located near two interstate highways and the airport and its partnership between Phoenix International Corp., the City of Fargo and NDSU "is viewed as a very good model for getting a project like this off the ground."
Aelred J. Kurtenbach, SDSU dean of engineering and chair and chief executive officer of Daktronics, Inc., said SDSU is in the preliminary stages of developing a park of its own and the delegation was looking for advice. "We haven't broken ground. What we are trying to develop here is the will to proceed with a research park at SDSU," he said. "That's why this trip is so important to us. We want to explore a park at a similar setting to ours."
Kurtenbach said SDSU sought input from NDSU officials on questions about the required legal structure, financial commitment needed to get a project started and necessary arrangements between the university and participating businesses. "It's been very beneficial for us to visit NDSU," he said.
Meanwhile, construction on the NDSU park continues to move ahead. The 75,000-square-foot Phoenix International building is expected to open in late spring. The second building, a 40,000-square-foot structure for NDSU researchers, is anticipated to be ready by late summer.
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