Responsiveness

Iowa State University's community development and economic development activities have seen substantial growth and expansion as documented in the annual Technology Transfer Reports
(see http://www.vpresearch.iastate.edu/docs/techtransfer/2005TTReport.pdf for the most recent report). An important University goal is becoming a greater force in technology transfer and economic development while adjusting to the needs and aspirations of the state. As a result of its work in this direction, Iowa State now ranks as one of the top universities in many categories surveyed by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).

In response to input from business leaders across the state and various external studies and reports done at the state level, some key changes and adjustments have been made, including:

• Creation of the Economic Development Council: Based on recommendations from a task force and other observations, the Vice Provost for Research in December 1992 was given the directive to organize a structure to do the following: 1) create an internal cooperation such that the University achieves maximum benefit of all of its expertise in each of its programs, and 2) create an interface between the University and the external constituencies such that Iowa State expertise is easy to access and the various organizational divisions within the University are transparent to those outside the University, appearing as a seamless whole to the external world. This led to the organization of the Economic Development Council and eventually the Point of Contact system.

• Expansion of the ISU Research Park

• Creation of new community oriented efforts, such as the Partnership in Prevention Science Institute ( http://www.ppsi.iastate.edu/ )

• Expansion of community programs, e.g., in the College of Design

• Creation of new technology transfer and economic development units, such as the incubator in the Plant Sciences Institute

• Expansion of technology transfer and economic development units, such as growing the Center for Transportation Research and Education from a $3 million per annual to an $8 million per annual operation

• Creation of the position of Director for Industry Relations in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (http://www.industry.iastate.edu/) with a host of new programs, such as Biotech Mixers and Economic Development Open Houses

• Formation of IPRT Company Assistance from several units

• Consolidation of the Center for Industrial Research and Service, the Engineering Extension Service, the Iowa Procurement Outreach Center, and the Iowa Manufacturing Extension Partnership

• Financial independence of the Iowa State University Research Foundation (ISURF)

• Development of an option of taking equity positions in companies by ISURF

• Increased cooperation between Iowa State, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, and the Ames Economic Development Commission

• Increased efforts to attract international companies to the ISU Research Park and the Ames-Des Moines corridor, with current negotiations underway with companies in New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, France, and Germany.

The first years of the new millennium have seen substantial cuts in state appropriations to the Regents' universities, with even higher cuts to the economic development activities of the institutions. In FY03 alone, three units that are critical to the University's economic development program (ISU Research Park, Institute for Physical Research and Technology and Small Business Development Center) suffered budget cuts of nearly 60%. An October 2002 report to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, explained in detail the impact of these cuts on new and existing businesses throughout the state and on the ability of Iowa State to support economic development. The 2005 Technology Transfer Report also shows the continuing effect of budget cuts to economic development units, e.g. in the area of technical assistance to existing companies.

As a land grant institution, Iowa State has evolved an extremely strong commitment to engaging the stakeholders in the state of Iowa. Since the late 1990s, the expectations of the state have driven this engagement progressively toward programs in economic development. To strengthen these programs even further, the following actions are planned for the near to intermediate future.

• Given the traditional organizational framework of universities, the units engagedin economic development are distributed throughout the university system. As a consequence, significant integration of activities across units is necessary if the economic and community development programs of the university are to be effective and are to be perceived as well organized by stakeholders throughoutthe state. This includes a closer collaboration between programs forcommunity development and economic development.

• At the same time, established collaborations with State and local economic development organizations need to be strengthened and expanded.

• The reports of the Battelle Institute outlining roadmaps for the development of bioscience related industries recommend implementation steps for the next five to ten years. Iowa State is a key institution in making this proposed plan a reality. This will include concentrated new research and outreach efforts and additional opportunities and structures for university-industry interaction.

• After several years of declining state funding for activities in economic development and technology transfer, acquisition of new state funding to support technology transfer programs at the Regents' institution is a top priority. Iowa State recently received an infusion of funds through the Grow Iowa Values Fund totalling $1,925,000. This award will help develop and enhance the the commercialization infrastructure and the campus-wide entrepreneurial culture and also build and sustain a larger pipeline of projects that have potential to contribute significantly to Iowa's economy.The University also sees the need to actively pursue the growth of externally funded economic development initiatives through federal and foundation programs. Some units, such as the Center for Industrial Research and Service and the Center for Transportation Research and Education, have been verysuccessful lately in expanding their federally funded portfolios.

Attracting new companies to Iowa continues to be a top priority. The University has developed strong ties with international companies that should pay off in the near to immediate future. The result will be that some companies will relocate to the Iowa State Research Park and collaborations with university researchers will be formed. This will also provide an economic benefit to the community and state through the introduction of new, high-paying jobs.