North Dakota Science and Technology Partnerships: A Proposal to the EPSCoR ESG Program

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This project will implement a comprehensive plan to enhance the role of technology in North Dakota's economy and its educational system. The plan will encourage and assist graduate students in starting up companies. Their new small businesses and existing ones will be tied into the university research community. They will be informed of the federal technology development programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and assisted in submitting applications. Strong and meaningful links will be forged between engineering and the natural sciences at both the research and pedagogical levels. Project objectives to be accomplished include: (1) increased submissions by North Dakota companies to federal SBIR and STTR programs; (2) implementation of a Master of Science in Technology degree that will equip students with a range of skills needed to be effective in a smaller company; (3) strengthening the research programs of existing faculty at North Dakota State University, and (4) development of an undergraduate short course to stimulate entrepreneurial activity. These activities are intended to provide the talent pool necessary to develop a high technology base in North Dakota and in turn provide local employment opportunities for in-state students educated at the North Dakota State University.