Dear stakeholders,

Welcome to the first edition of the North Dakota State University Research and Technology Park online newsletter. I was privileged to become the Research Park's first employee and first executive director in January 2002. In July, Jan Sobolik joined our team as executive assistant. We are both grateful to the Research Park board and community for their support during this first year of operation.

The NDSU Research Park's mission is to broaden North Dakota's economic base by nurturing technology-based business and enhancing citizen investments in NDSU. We have begun to achieve our objectives through partnerships with international, national and regional centers of excellence, technology-based businesses and the NDSU research community. We're already building cutting-edge research facilities and we've begun a feasibility study to determine the viability of a business incubator designed to foster technology-based entrepreneurship in the region.

The Research Park's vision is to serve as a catalyst for scientific and technological discoveries that will enhance North Dakota's economic development. In one short year, we have done much to advance that vision. In 2002, the Research Park:

• Secured $22 million financing plan for the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering.
• Held a groundbreaking for the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, attended by more than 350 statewide leaders.
• Completed the Research Park's first economic impact statement.
• Established an active-client list of 12 companies seeking partnerships with NDSU and the state of North Dakota.
• Initiated a business plan and operating approval schedule for park operations.
• Delivered more than 30 presentations on the Research Park throughout the community.
• Established the 5:01 Entrepreneur Society, an entrepreneur networking event.
• Created a community-based incubator feasibility taskforce.
• Awarded a contract to Claggett Wolfe Associates of Auburn, Calif., to conduct a business and technology incubator feasibility study and create a vision for high-tech entrepreneurship.
• Attended annual meetings of the Association of University Research Parks and National Business Incubation Association.

We hope you will find this newsletter informative and encourage you to contact us should an article inspire questions or ideas for potential partnerships. We welcome your feedback on the newsletter as well as our Web site, which can be found at www.ndsuresearchpark.com. Our next newsletter is scheduled for release in August.

We look forward to continued progress in 2003 and appreciate your involvement and support.

Tony Grindberg
Executive Director
tony@ndsuresearchpark.com