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Alabama Creates Research Alliance to Spur Economic Development-Idaho Creates New Science and Technology Office

Gov. Don Siegelman announced the establishment of the Alabama Research Alliance, a partnership between among Alabama’s research universities, the business community and state government.

In Government Technology

The mission of the research alliance is to foster economic development in Alabama by investing in existing and new research initiatives at Alabama’s research universities.

Officials said the research alliance will focus on investing in and promoting research in a number of areas, including space, science, technology and defense, automotive manufacturing and production design, agriculture, biomedicine and cancer research and aviation computer electronics.

The Alabama Research Alliance replaces the Alabama Research Institute, and the alliance will operate under an expanded board of directors.

The board will consist of thirteen members, including the governor, who will serve as chairman, the chancellor of the University of Alabama System, the presidents of Auburn University, the University of South Alabama, Alabama A&M and Tuskegee University, and seven business leaders, who soon will be appointed by the governor to serve six-year staggered terms.

"I plan to appoint to the board business leaders who understand that research investment is a critical component for Alabama’s continued success as our state moves further into the new economy," Siegelman said in a statement.

An endowment for the Alabama Research Institute will become the research alliance endowment, effective Oct. 1, 2002. Officials said the interest income from the endowment will be used to support research and development activities of the research alliance, including the funding of research grants to the participating universities.

In addition, the research alliance will be designated as a state agency to accept federal funds appropriated or allocated by Congress to the state for scientific research and development.

Office of Gov. Don Siegelman

http://www.govtech.net/news/news.phtml?docid=2002.07.03-3030000000015583

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Gov. Dirk Kempthorne announced late last week the creation of TechConnect East, a regional science and technology office.

"Idaho is gaining a national reputation as a technology state and is the seventh-fastest growing high-tech state in the country," Kempthorne said in a statement. "High tech already accounts for nearly 40 percent of our gross state product, and is a $14.4 billion industry. This office will build on that and create new jobs and businesses for eastern Idaho."

TechConnect East is funded with $30,000 from Bechtel, $25,000 from the Eastern Idaho Economic Development Council (EIEDC) and $15,000 from the state. Officials said the new office will support job creation and high-tech business development in southeastern Idaho. The Bannock Development Corporation and Idaho State University will provide office and administrative support.

The new office will help the area expand a wide array of emerging industries, ranging from biotechnology and improving agriculture to software and systems development, said Dr. Bill Shipp, president and general manager of Bechtel’s INEEL office in Idaho Falls.

Shipp said the new office should focus on specific areas of expertise in eastern Idaho, including information security, subsurface technology, environmental remediation, integrated circuit design, radiation sciences and particle acceleration.

The governor said the creation of the regional office meets several objectives of his Science and Technology Strategy for Idaho. The six-point plan, developed by a 23-member advisory group of representatives of industry and Idaho’s higher education system, calls for increased investments in education and workforce training, research and development, university/industry collaboration, technology transfer, venture capital and broadband connectivity.

TechConnect East staff will report to a regional advisory board of personnel from the EIEDC, Bannock Development Corporation, the Regional Development Alliance, Idaho State University and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

In addition to TechConnect East, economic development officials said they hope to create regional offices in other parts of the state.

Office of Gov. Dirk Kempthorne

http://www.govtech.net/news/news.phtml?docid=2002.07.02-3030000000015478

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