USU Praises Passage of USTAR Initiative
Utah State University administrators are confident that the Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) initiative, which was passed by the Utah legislature on Wednesday, March 1, will translate into long-term economic benefits for the state.
“The state’s investment in university research will result in new discoveries, high-tech companies and high-paying jobs,” said Stan Albrecht, president of Utah State University. “We are extremely pleased by the passage of USTAR.”
Senate Bill 75, the USTAR bill sponsored by Senator Al Mansell, is designed to help Utah keep pace in scientific research and technological advancement — directly translating to a stronger economy, high-paying jobs, increased tax revenue and better quality of life.
“More than 30 states and many nations around the world have implemented aggressive investment strategies in high technology,” said Brent Miller, vice president for research at Utah State. “Through USTAR, the state is increasing our competitiveness so that Utah will not be left behind and so that we can lead out in targeted areas.”
The bill allocates funding for research teams and facilities at the University of Utah and Utah State University, as well as technology innovation centers located at strategic locations throughout the state. University researchers will make discoveries and inventions that can be commercialized in new businesses and industries.
Conservative projections developed by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research suggest that in 30 years the USTAR investment will create 123,400 new jobs in the state of Utah and generate $5 billion in new tax revenues.
At USU, the USTAR initiative will greatly enhance efforts already being taken to help commercialize faculty research, such as the expansion of USU’s research park, Innovation Campus, from 36 to more than150 acres.
“In the past three years, we’ve increased incentives for researchers to bring their technologies to market,” said Steven Kubisen, director of technology commercialization at Utah State. “USTAR represents the next big step in our ability to provide more economic benefits for the state.”
In 2005, the state legislature allocated $1.6 million to USU for initial USTAR investments. USU is using that money to recruit its first new research teams.
“USU has identified several areas of research strength, including microbe biotechnology, nutrition research and intelligent systems, in which research teams are being recruited to specifically enhance and augment technology development,” said Ann Aust, associate vice president for research at Utah State. “These are areas of competitive advantage for USU with the greatest potential for economic development.”
“As these investments are made, we are expanding our research capacity and creating more opportunities for scientific discoveries that will lead to new technologies and businesses,” said Miller. “At the same time, we are bringing world-class researchers and equipment to the state’s university students.”
“The successful creation of USTAR can largely be credited to Utah’s business and community leaders,” said Albrecht. “We appreciate their vision and effort in promoting the state’s long-term economic development.”
USTAR has been championed by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Utah Information Technology Association, the Utah Life Science Association, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah and local chambers of commerce throughout the state.
“We especially appreciate Scott Anderson, CEO of Zions Bank; Dinesh Patel, partner at vSpring Capital; Lane Beattie, president of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce; and Richard Nelson, CEO of the Utah Information Technology Association,” said Miller. “They have been tireless in promoting USTAR.”
“USTAR is a key element in Gov. Huntsman’s economic development plan, and we are proud to be a part of it,” said Albrecht.
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