North Dakota S&T Starts Over

While many states are adding multi-million programs to their science and technology portfolio, state-led S&T efforts in much of the North Central United States are still suffering. The latest example was the elimination of North Dakota’s two largest programs this summer.

Technology Transfer, Inc. (TTI) and the North Dakota Manufacturing Technology Partnership were closed effective June 30. Staff for the state’s Department of Economic Development & Finance, which inherited administration and oversight of TTI’s outstanding projects, was cut by 30 percent as well.

Technology Transfer, Inc. was a nonprofit corporation established by the state in 1991 to foster the innovation and commercialization of new technologies. TTI was the only state-based resource in North Dakota for high-risk R&D funding. Project funding of up to $100,000 was available to companies with marketable ideas for products or manufacturing processes. Repayment of TTI funds was to be made through royalties if the product or process was commercialized successfully.

Along with TTI’s portfolio, the North Dakota Department of Economic Development & Finance also has assumed responsibility for services formerly offered by the Manufacturing Technology Partnership. The partnership had been run by North Dakota State University.

The department has submitted a State Technology Extension Program (STEP) proposal to the National Institute of Standards & Technology for development of a new strategy to address the technology needs of North Dakota’s manufacturing base. Until funding is received for that project, the department’s six business development specialists will call on industrial firms as part of the state's existing retention and expansion

efforts.

Meanwhile, the University of North Dakota’s Center for Innovation has received a $160,000 EPSCoT grant to expand its assistance for businesses seeking federal research funding (see EPSCoT story earlier in this issue).