Gov. Walker Joins University Presidents to Announce Record Research Funding
Walker, State Board of Regents Commissioner Richard Kendell, University of Utah President Mike Young and Utah State University President Kermit Hall gathered July 29 at the governor's office to emphasize that the state's public research universities significantly benefit Utah's economy, not just its education.
"This impressive revenue sum demonstrates the commitment of our research universities, our board of regents and our state to research and innovation and to growth in our economy," said Walker. "I have often said that education is the fuel for economic development, and recognizing this revenue today puts an emphatic stamp of validation on that statement."
During fiscal year 2004, which ended June 30, Utah State University received a record $186 million, an 18 percent jump from the previous year. During that same period, the University of Utah surpassed the $300 million mark for the first time. It garnered more than $309 million in research grants, fellowships for graduate students and financial aid for undergraduates, an 8 percent increase over the previous year. Both universities have more than doubled their research revenues in the last decade.
"The wisdom of the Legislature has allowed our universities to reinvest in research, and as a result we are seeing these kinds of outcomes," said Utah State's President Hall.
Hall said that using even the most conservative economic multipliers, these research revenues translate into billions of dollars for Utah's economy.
"This money represents economic security for thousands of Utah's citizens," Hall said. "Our Space Dynamics Lab alone brought in $63 million this year, employing more than 200 scientists, engineers and other professionals."
This research money does not stay only on campus, said University of Utah's President Young. It bolsters Utah's economy in many ways, both direct and indirect.
"Research conducted at our universities leads to inventions and innovations that are licensed to private entrepreneurs who convert these academic advances into new business that employ thousands of Utah residents and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues," Young said.
The latest estimates from University of Utah Research Park show that about 6,000 Utah residents are employed there, and Research Park businesses generate annual revenues of more than $550 million. Utah State University's Innovation Campus employs approximately 1,100 people and brings in more than $300 million in taxable revenues.
Figures from the University of Utah's Technology Transfer Office show that 64 startup companies are in business because of technology obtained from the University of Utah in exchange for payment of royalties to the university. Of those 64 companies, 60 have operations in Utah.
And this past June, the U.S. Department of Commerce named Utah State University's Innovation Campus winner of the 2004 Economic Development Award for its efforts in rural economic development for successfully starting 57 new companies since its inception 18 years ago.
Governor Walker also referenced the upcoming higher education summit this fall where she plans to bring higher education leaders together to discuss how they can more effectively transfer the technology and innovation fostered at their institutions into the private sector. By encouraging this process of cooperation, Walker hopes to spur economic growth and increased job creation.
During his remarks at the governor's press conference, President Hall highlighted several important areas of research at Utah State. These include:
1. SPACE DYNAMICS LABORATORY
Michael Pavich, Director
SDL is a not-for-profit research corporation owned by Utah State University. Charged with applying basic research to the technology challenges presented in the military and science arenas, SDL has developed core competencies in electro-optical sensor systems, calibration, cryogenics and reconnaissance systems.
Economic Development
• Over the past decade SDL has more than doubled its yearly revenues. In FY04, SDL is projecting nearly $63M in revenues, sustaining the level achieved in FY03. SDL's growth can be attributed to a widening diversity of funding sources, including an increase in contracts with non-government sources.
• SDL employs more than 200 scientists, engineers and professionals.Service
• SDL's Education and Public Outreach (EPO) Office sponsors a number of programs to benefit K-12 and university students.Education/Research
• SDL employs more than 100 students from Utah State University.
• SDL has provided many of the student opportunities that have made it possible for Utah State students to send more experiments into space than any other university in the world.
2. INSTITUTE FOR ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
Robert Sidwell, Director
The team of scientists at the Institute for Antiviral Research (IAR) works on research oriented toward the control of viral diseases.
Economic Development
• Senior researchers of the Institute have discovered and aided in the development of five drugs currently approved by the FDA. (FY2004 Revenue $182,000)o Tamiflu™- an oral therapy for influenza
o Vira-A™- used for treating herpes virus infections
o Virazole™- therapy of respiratory syncytial virus infections of infants and young children and for hepatitis C
o Cytovene™- used for treating severe cytomegalovirus infections
o Zerit™- used as a therapy for AIDS• Attracts major research grants from the federal government ($21 million)
Service
• Provides for homeland security by working to find cures for dangerous diseases, including:o SARS
o West Nile virus
o Animal smallpox
o Mad Cow Disease
o Other viruses that may be used by potential bioterroristsEducation/Research
• The IAR employs a large team of technicians, many of whom are B.S. or M.S. students at Utah State. (4 PhD; 2 graduates; 16 undergraduates)
• Moer than 380 papers have been published describing IAR research.
3. NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEARING ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
Karl White, Director
The goal of NCHAM is to ensure that all newborns and toddlers with hearing loss are identified as early as possible and provided with timely and appropriate audiological, educational and medical intervention (FY2004 revenue: $2.46 million)
Economic Development
• NCHAM has created a data management software package that is currently being used by more than 200 hospitals nationwide.Service
• As a result of the work being done by NCHAM and others, dramatic increases in screening have occurred with more than 65 percent of newborns nationwide now being screened for hearing loss at birth.
• NCHAM provides training and support for hospitals across the country so they can implement screening programs without outside research funding.
• NCHAM is working to raise public awareness of this issue through news releases, broadcasts and publications.Education/Research
• The work being done by NCHAM is attracting well-known experts to Utah State, with whom students get the opportunity to meet and learn from.
President Hall also spoke about the state's investment in the Engineering Initiative, a commitment to our engineering potential and the benefits it can bring the state. He discussed three research projects at Utah State with enormous economic potential that prove investment pays dividends.
4. TWISTERON
• Warren Phillips, a professor for 30 years in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department at Utah State, invented a technology called Twisteron to minimize drag on airplanes as they fly.
o This technology could save the airline industry and private, military and transport airplanes hundreds of millions of dollars in fuel costs each year.
5. SMART WIRING
• Cynthia Furse, a former Utah State faculty member now at the University of Utah, has developed a technology called "Smart Wiring" that will aid in the detection of faulty and aging electrical wiring on aircraft.
o This could save air technicians hundreds of hours of time that is spent searching for shorts through miles and miles of hard-to-reach wiring, thus reducing expensive maintenance grounding of aircraft.
6. 3-D CAMERA
• Robert Pack developed a patented 3-D Multispectral Imaging camera that could revolutionize the world of reconnaissance, movies, video games, geological surveying, disaster response, homeland security and even the way we view our evening news.
o A camera using this technology enables instant 3-D images to be acquired from moving vehicles such as airplanes or trucks. These images are received using ladar technology that uses light instead of radio waves.
Contact and writer: Tim Vitale (435) 797-1356, tim.vitale@usu.edu
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