North Dakota Legislature Commits $50M for Centers of Excellence

With the recent passage of the state's biennial budget, North Dakota's universities and colleges can now compete for a share of $20 million in matching funds to create Centers of Excellence. The money is the first installment of the state legislature's $50 million commitment to the Centers program, which is the centerpiece of Gov. John Hoeven's initiatives to transform the state's economy toward science and technology.

The initiative, unveiled during Gov. Hoeven's 2004 State-of-the-State Address, is designed to pursue academic excellence and spur R&D, new technology, and job creation. Centers will be located on university campuses throughout the state and will focus on technology, aerospace, value-added agriculture, energy, advanced manufacturing, and tourism. Centers must match each state dollar invested with private or non-state public funds.

For the 2006-07 biennium, the legislature set aside $16 million of the permanent oil tax trust fund to establish the university-based centers. Senate Bill 2018 also grants authority to borrow up to $5 million more this biennium if the original money is exhausted. The remaining $30 million will be appropriated in future bienniums, according to the bill.

To elicit input and engagement in the centers concept, the governor's office and program proponents held forums to discuss the future of the program at each of the 11 university campuses beginning in March. According to Gov. Hoeven, the plan is to encourage each campus, in partnership with its business community, to map its future and to begin a dialogue on fostering research excellence and technology commercialization.

More information is available at: http://www.governor.state.nd.us/2004-excellence.html