Energy and Environmental Research Center Unveils $8 million Expansion
The UND Energy and Environmental Research Center officially dedicated its $8 million expansion and renovation project on Friday after two years of construction. The EERC's new facilities are a reflection of the tremendous growth the Center has seen in recent years. The overall construction project includes a 47,000-square-foot building, which has office space for 90 employees, and a remodel of the existing office facilities, which were built in 1949.
The Coordinating Center
The Coordinating Center of the Red River Valley Research Corridor will be a catalyst for the development and growth of science and technology-based enterprises throughout North Dakota.
Dr. Gerald Groenwald, Director of the EERC, says the new and renovated facilities reflect the corporate culture of the EERC, which is an avenue for new spin-off companies and a model for economic development opportunities in the region. This expansion also reflects the EERC's success in developing strategic global partnerships focused on critical energy and environmental technologies. The EERC’s partners have come from 47 countries and every state in the USA. Read more about this expansion at the Grand Forks Herald.

UND Partners with Alion Science and Technology for Surface Engineering Initiative

UND will partner with a national defense research company to develop new surfaces and coatings for military aircraft and vehicle engine parts to make them last longer.

North Dakota companies also could be involved in the $2.8 million project that teams UND's School of Engineering and Mines with Alion Science and Technology Corp., a Virginia-based company that specializes in research and development for the U.S. Department of Defense. Read more about this partnership at the Grand Forks Herald.

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Senator Dorgan Calls for National RFID Task Force

Speaking at the Frontline Solutions Conference and Exposition trade show in Chicago, Senator Dorgan told supply chain and technology executives that government action was crucial to the development of RFID.

Dorgan said an agency similar to the Office of Technology Assessment, which was abolished in 1995, could be working to ensure the establishment of RFID standards both in the U.S. and across international markets and tackle privacy concerns.

According to the RFID Journal, Senator Dorgan has been a leading policymaker on issues affecting the high-tech industry and has said that he wants North Dakota to be the epicenter of RFID development. See article at RFIDJournal.com.

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Rural-Urban Trade and Technology Linkages Project Awarded to CEO Praxis, Inc.

CEO Praxis, Inc. of Grand Forks and Fargo has been awarded $296,000 from USDA’s Small Business Innovation Research program to conduct a two-year initiative that will develop stronger ties between rural and urban economies. “Facilitating Rural-Urban Trade and Technology Flows” will develop and implement ways for rural entrepreneurs, companies, colleges and universities to connect with metro-based markets and S&T expertise.

Delore Zimmerman, the project’s director and the coordinator of the Red River Valley Research Corridor, says the project was conceived about two years ago with initiatives like the research corridor in mind. “Connecting rural businesses, colleges and universities with science and technology-based resources and the robust markets in metro areas is key to success in a knowledge economy increasingly based on networks of firms and expertise in universities.”

The project will also be piloted in the Knowledge Corridor spanning Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts and with the Washington (State) Technology Alliance and its regional technology affiliates. The project’s emphasis is on creating “temporary economic agglomerations”, such as technology-focused action summits and business exchanges.

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Upcoming Events

October 11-12
The Upper Great Plains Technology Conference and Trade Show. U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan and the Chamber of Commerce Fargo Moorhead will host the sixth annual conference and trade show in the Fargodome. For more information see http://www.uppergreatplainstechnology.com

Got Science & Technology News?

Visit www.theresearchcorridor.com for the latest news about what’s happening in science and technology in North Dakota and the Upper Great Plains. Let others know about emerging S&T developments in your company, college or organization by e-mailing to delore@the researchcorridor.com

For the latest in what’s happening in science and technology, venture capital and technology-based development in other states, regions and cities visit http://www.nasvf.org - the website of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds.

The Red River Valley Research Corridor

The goal of the Red River Valley Research Corridor is to expand upon the research capacity at North Dakota's universities to help build and attract high-tech businesses, generate new economic opportunities and create good-paying jobs for the region.

This website and action summit prepared and maintained by the Red River Valley Research
Corridor Coordinating Center to advance the Red River Valley Research Corridor initiative.