Arkansas Moves Closer To Becoming Knowledge and Technology -Based Thanks to $13.5 Million Grant

Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007

Arkansas’s economic goal of becoming more knowledge and technology-based made great strides with today’s announcement of $13.5 million in research grants for three state universities.

The release of $1.5 million by Governor Mike Beebe from the Accelerate Arkansas funds is part of a potential three-year $4.5 million state match to accompany $9 million awarded to the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority (Authority) by the National Science Foundation.

Today’s announcement puts into action the federal grant received earlier this month and allows the state to initiate a research and economic development package that has been two years in the planning. In a ceremony at the State Capitol, the research grant project, known as Arkansas ASSET Initiative (Advancing and Supporting Science, Engineering and Technology), was formally accepted by the three universities.

Joining Governor Beebe were Dr. B Alan Sugg, President of the University of Arkansas System, Dr. Les Wyatt, President of Arkansas State University, Chancellor John A. White of the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, Chancellor Joel Anderson of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Dr. Gail McClure, Vice President Research from the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority.

“Research is the key to propelling Arkansas’s future in new and exciting directions and creating high-paying jobs,” Governor Beebe said. “John Ahlen and his team at the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority stepped up and made the push for these grants, knowing the potential benefits for our universities and for economic development in this state.”

The three-year budget which targets developing research areas with commercial applications will be distributed in these amounts: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, $4,220,584; University of Arkansas at Little Rock, $3,392,502; and Arkansas State University, $1,900,447. In addition, the three institutions will compete for $2,458,456 in bioproduction research seed money over the next three years.

The Authority’s three-year budget of $1,528,012 will provide statewide programs and projects that will strengthen entrepreneurial training, collaborative research and faculty exchange, undergraduate research and internship programs, and communication among the research community.

The initial $1.5 million state match came from the research portion of the Accelerate Arkansas strategic plan which was enacted during the 2007 legislative session. The state match dollars being distributed are for one year, but additional funding will be sought. The Accelerate Arkansas strategic plan includes entrepreneurship, early-stage risk capital and research building blocks for economic development.

Arkansas ASSET Initiative will focus on two areas of research: wireless nanosensor systems, representing an investment in equipment and students, and plant-based bioproduction, representing a major investment in human resources. An integral component of this program will be entrepreneurial training and support for commercialization of new technologies.

For additional information on the research focuses, as well as quotes from Authority staff and university leadership, click here

To see video of the press conference, click here.