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5/19/00
The NDSU Research and Technology Park: a partnership with industry
Fargo, N.D., May 19—There are simply no limits for North Dakota State University's new Research and Technology Park. The intriguing venture is a place where NDSU researchers and private industry combine their talents to develop new technologies, methods and systems.
"The concept behind the park is to promote and encourage scientific investigative research and technology advancement. We see the park as a positive step for everyone involved," said NDSU President Joseph Chapman.
The park opens an exciting new chapter of NDSU's engagement with the community and region. With first class faculty, cutting-edge technology and a student body with a reputation for quality, NDSU has the strengths to meet many of the research needs of industry. In return, participating companies bring the latest equipment and expose students to contemporary business challenges, trends and opportunities. It's hand-in-glove, a melding of skills and creativity to help shape the area's economic future.
"The park is important for both the university and the state," said Chapman. "There is a tremendous potential to expand our region's economy because the park helps to create and retain high-technology jobs. I see it as a way to harness the power of our faculty's research expertise to enhance opportunities for area businesses. The park will promote new business growth."
Phil Boudjouk, vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer, expects the park to benefit companies that rely on state-of-the-art technology, as well as NDSU's students, faculty and staff. "We're seeing companies interested in stretching themselves from established product lines to new ventures that require research and development. We can supply them the tools to do that," he said.
The park, located on 40 acres west of the Fargodome, has a modular design, which allows the buildings' interiors to be easily remodeled to meet specific technology and laboratory needs of companies or researchers.
The concept clearly meets a significant need, according to Dick Rayl, vice president for business and finance. "We've got many medium-sized companies that don't have full-blown basic research capabilities," he said. "With technology changing as rapidly as it is, many of them have a difficult time reputation for quality and a strong work ethic. The park has the potential for keeping them here to work for participating companies, instead of them moving in search of technology-based jobs.
"The tchnology park gives us a new dimension and strategy to interact with industry and non-academic units to create greater economic development in the state," said Craig Schnell, vice president for academic affairs. "As we do that, not only are chances of retaining people the best, but we might be able to recruit people to North Dakota."
And what lies ahead in the park's future? Consider this thought by Kramer. "Every product has to be engineered, so it is virtually a limitless thing," he said with emphasis. "There are no limits here."
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