Aside from leading teams of researchers in designing state-of-the-art microsensors, pushing the limits is what Joel Jorgenson does best.

"My job is to set outrageous goals," says Jorgenson, BS '87, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and senior design faculty coordinator at North Dakota State University. The Pelican Rapids, Minn., native is part of a team of designers at the NDSU Research and Technology Park who have been working to put NDSU at the head of nanotechnology research. He leads teams of graduate students through the process, from concept to production, of designing sensors smaller than rice kernels.

Jorgenson's latest goal is to help start 10 companies in the next 10 years based on the work that is being done at the Research Park. He is collaborating with Philip Boudjouk, vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer at NDSU, Gregory McCarthy, associate vice president for research, and multiple researchers at the park to bring economic growth to Fargo. "We are working with individuals from Signal Technology, Superconductor Technologies, Tessera, Alien Technologies, as well as consultants involved in the program. I've also interacted with local business individuals regarding the opportunities that our research provides," Jorgenson says.

Starting 10 companies sounds like a big job, but Jorgenson is up for the challenge. "I'm very interested in economic development. Every year I work closely with graduate students who become my good friends. I want to help start these companies so my good friends can stay in the region," he said.

Of all the outrageous goals Jorgenson has set, he believes starting 10 companies will be the easiest one to accomplish. "Once we get two or three going, we can use the same format and the rest will just spin off of those." No specifics have been decided as to what products or services the companies will provide, but they will all be based on miniaturized electronics.

A date has not been set for the first company to be launched, but Jorgenson is confident it will be soon. With the announcement that Alien Technology Corp. has chosen NDSU's Research and Technology Park to build a high tech manufacturing plant, the economic environment is ready for growth. "I think that the momentum is increasing. The growth of the Research and Technology Park, the announcement that Alien Technologies is coming to Fargo and the continued development with our research are making conditions very favorable. I can't give an exact date, but believe that a startup could be announced soon," says Jorgenson.