Arthur C. Vailas - Idaho State University's 12th President
Gov. Otter Touts IGEM at Idaho State University
Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering Building
Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter touted the benefits of his proposed new $5 million IGEM, Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission, at the Idaho State University Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering (RISE) Complex on Wednesday.
Otter said IGEM's mission is to create new enterprises and high-paying, knowledge-based economy jobs by increasing strategic areas of research and development through targeted partnerships among industry, higher education and government that leverage new and existing resources.
He said he hopes that the IGEM program, using facilities such as the new ISU RISE Complex, can be as successful as the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at Idaho Falls, a research consortium of Idaho universities working with the Idaho National Laboratory that Otter said has attracted $45 million in investments.
"We'll do our best to make IGEM a success at ISU," said Otter, who credited ISU President Arthur C. Vailas for his leadership in helping to obtain and develop the RISE Complex and increase research activities at ISU.
The IGEM program provides an opportunity for ISU faculty to collaborate with staff at the Idaho National Laboratory and faculty at Boise State University and the University of Idaho in funded research directed toward commercialization of research results to support Idaho's economy.
About 50 local officials, media representatives and business leaders attended the presentation in the RISE Building's nano-crystal laboratory, and a tour of the 260,000 square-foot facility followed.
The Governor's fiscal year 2013 budget recommendations include:
- A recommendation of $1 million for the Department of Commerce for a fund to bridge the gap between the development of a technology at an Idaho university and its commercialization. The focus would be on technologies with viable commercial application and a private industry partner.
- A recommendation of $2 million for competitive state university research under the direction of the Idaho Higher Education Research Council (HERC).
Welcome to Idaho State University!
Idaho State University serves the people of Idaho, the nation and the world by providing the highest-quality education, discovering new knowledge to enhance quality of life, creating art, and influencing national and international policy. Rich in tradition and spirit, ISU is a vibrant institution with opportunities for people of all backgrounds to become involved and to work together to promote understanding and awareness of all cultures.
I am proud to be the leader of an impressive faculty and staff that represent a vast and diverse pool of intellectual resources. Many have earned national and international reputations and all are committed to helping our students achieve their educational and professional goals. Student enrollment has increased by 12% over the last three years, and ISU now has the largest graduate student enrollment of all the Idaho universities.
ISU has six disciplinary colleges: Arts and Letters, Business, Education, Science and Engineering, the Division of Health Sciences, and Technology. The jewel of southern Idaho–ISU's new L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center–is a venue for local and international productions of the highest caliber.
ISU is Idaho's health-care university. We offer programs in nearly all of the health professions, including family medicine and dental residency programs. In the fall of 2009, ISU opened the Idaho State University Meridian Health Science Center that consolidates all of our health professional programs in the Treasure Valley.
Researchers in ISU's Idaho Accelerator Center collaborate on energy research with scientists with the Idaho National Laboratory. ISU is a founding member of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, a public-private partnership to advance energy-related educational opportunities and research.
I invite you to explore our Web site to see what Idaho State University has to offer. Thank you for visiting Idaho State University.
Arthur C. Vailas
President