NDSU research leads the region
The National Science Foundation recently reported that NDSU leads a five-state region in research and development expenditures, spending $103 million in fiscal year 2005.
The five-state region includes Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
The second largest research university is Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont., with a research expenditure of more than $97 million in 2004.
The third largest is the University of Idaho, with a research expenditure of more than $93 million in 2004.
Over the past five years, NDSU’s Research and Technology Park has grown from 55 acres of sunflower fields to a nationally known, award-winning park employing more than 400 people.
Alien Technology’s new facility employs nearly 300 employees.
“ Our faculty, staff and students continue to excel in areas of innovative technology-driven research. A long range university goal is to be in the top 100 research institutions in the country,” President Joseph Chapman said.
Currently, NDSU is the 122nd largest research university out of 600 tracked by the NSF, a similar ranking to last year, but with an increase in expenditures by slightly more than $10 million.
“ The substantial increase in research activity at NDSU and its continued overall national ranking, illustrates the exceptional work by faculty, staff and students in a very competitive research environment,” Philip Boudjouk, vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer, said.
Boudjouk also said regarding agriculture, primarily what North Dakota has been known for, NDSU brings in billions per year for the state of North Dakota.
“ In terms of agriculture, the impact is enormous and NDSU has played a huge role in putting North Dakota as the number one producer of 12 crops,” Boudjouk said.
While agriculture is primarily what NDSU is known for, recent years have seen a shift toward the high-tech sector, including engineering, electronics and biomedical areas.
“ I think [having the research park] is very important in helping us attract companies to North Dakota,” Boudjouk said.
The Research and Technology Park helped bring in companies like Phoenix International, Bob Cat and Alien Technology, among many other start-up businesses.
“ Our mission is to improve the economic status of our citizens, and the way we’re doing it is through agriculture, mechanical arts [engineering] and liberal arts,” Boudjouk said.
One of the eventual goals of the research conducted at NDSU is “to use the technologies we’ve developed in electronics and materials, especially coatings, and apply that to biomedical areas,” Boudjouk said.
NDSU’s research in polymers and coatings will help with medical implants including stints and pacemakers.
Boudjouk said the reason patient’s bodies reject medical implants is that bacteria builds up on the implant.
The coatings developed at NDSU will help to keep that from happening.
The Research and Technology Park is constantly expanding, putting NDSU on the map of America’s important research institutions.
“ You want to stay at the cutting edge, and the cutting edge keeps moving,” Boudjouk said.