Research and Innovation Strategy Report of Phase 1—Assessment and Strategic Directions May 2014
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North Dakota State University and NDSU Research and Technology Park Research and Innovation Strategy Report of Phase 1—Assessment and Strategic Directions May 2014 Prepared for: Prepared by: May 21, 2014 Dr. Kelly Rusch, Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and Mr. Chuck Hoge, Executive Director, NDSU Research and Technology Park North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58102 Dear Dr. Rusch and Mr. Hoge: With this letter, Eva Klein & Associates is pleased to transmit our report—Phase 1 Assessment and Strategic Directions for Research and Innovation at North Dakota State University and NDSU Research and Technology Park—performed under EKA’s services agreement with NDSU Research and Technology Park. Report Organization With a combination of hard data, qualitative interview data with more than 100 stakeholders, and our own observations in context of our national experience, there was a large body of information to cover in this Assessment Report. We have done our best to organize the voluminous information in a user-friendly fashion. Section 1 summarizes the objectives and work of this study. Sections 2 through 6 provide several Contexts for this Assessment. Sections 7 through 11 provide the Assessment. Of these, Section 11 provides EKA’s Conclusions and preliminary Strategic Directions. In Section 12, exhibits provide additional, supporting material. Current Assessment—NDSU Research and Innovation and NDSU RTP As is the case with assessments, our review led to many positive conclusions, and a few less positive. We have sought to present a complete, balanced view of the state of Research and Innovation and the Research and Technology Park today, including relevant North Dakota, regional, and university contexts—all provided as the baseline you sought for undertaking future planning. Looking Forward—Possible Strategic Directions In accordance with our Phase 1 assignment, the Strategic Directions presented in this Report are a beginning, not an end. These Strategic Directions are offered as an informed but straw man framework with which to begin the real work of evaluating alternatives and deciding about future Research and Innovation goals and strategies. It is our hope that having this Phase 1 work as a point of departure should make it possible to focus NDSU’s strategic dialogue effectively, on the right questions that need answers, and thus enable the University to craft a Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation in a reasonable timeframe. It has been a pleasure to work with the wonderful people of NDSU and the RTP, and their many North Dakota stakeholders—particularly because this is a moment not only for celebrating successes to date, but also a time for great optimism about the future—an optimism that we found thoroughly infectious. We are eager to continue to support the University and the RTP in advancing NDSU’s 21st century agenda for Research and Innovation. Very truly yours, Eva Klein Research and Innovation Strategy Phase 1—Assessment and Strategic Directions Contents CONTENTS 1—INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY PHASE 1 OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................ 1 PHASE 2 OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................ 1 PHASE 1 METHODS / TASKS ....................................................................................................... 2 THE EKA CONSULTANT TEAM ..................................................................................................... 2 PART 1—FIVE CONTEXTS FOR THE ASSESSMENT 2—CONTEXT: TRENDS IN UNIVERSITY INNOVATION STRATEGIES AND PLACE-MAKING OUR INSTITUTIONS’ ROOTS ....................................................................................................... 3 EVOLUTION OF THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION MISSION AND ROLES ............................................... 3 TOWARD NEW FORMULATIONS OF UNIVERSITY MISSION .................................................................. 4 PLACE-MAKING: FROM RESEARCH PARKS TO MIXED-USE, URBANIST INNOVATION CAMPUSES .................. 5 CONSULTANTS’ OBSERVATIONS .................................................................................................. 6 3—CONTEXT: THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA POPULATION AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ............................................................................... 7 CURRENT AND TARGET INDUSTRIES .............................................................................................. 7 STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................ 8 INNOVATION INVESTMENT PROGRAMS .......................................................................................... 9 THE BAKKEN REGION .............................................................................................................. 12 THE LEGACY FUND ................................................................................................................ 13 NORTH DAKOTA’S CONSERVATIVE CULTURE ................................................................................ 13 TRUST IN STATE GOVERNMENT .................................................................................................. 13 CONSULTANTS’ OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................ 14 4—CONTEXT: NORTH DAKOTA PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNANCE ...................................................................................................................... 15 RECENT AND PROJECTED ENROLLMENT GROWTH .......................................................................... 16 FUNDING ............................................................................................................................. 17 CONSULTANTS’ OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................ 19 5—CONTEXT: FARGO AND THE RED RIVER VALLEY REGION FARGO-MOORHEAD MSA ....................................................................................................... 21 MINNESOTA SERVICE AREA OF NDSU ........................................................................................ 21 THE RED RIVER VALLEY REGION ................................................................................................. 21 RED RIVER VALLEY RESEARCH CORRIDOR ..................................................................................... 21 VALLEY PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP—NEW REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN ........................... 22 CONSULTANTS OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................. 24 Research and Innovation Strategy Phase 1—Assessment and Strategic Directions Contents 6—CONTEXT: NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY LEARNERS: NDSU’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMAN CAPITAL ............................................................. 25 UNIVERSITY ORGANIZATION ...................................................................................................... 26 NDSU’S REACH AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................... 27 NDSU’S PEER UNIVERSITIES ...................................................................................................... 28 NDSU STRATEGIC PLANNING ................................................................................................... 29 NDSU’S RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA .................................................. 30 RAPID INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH, PAIRED WITH CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING ........................................... 31 CONSULTANTS’ OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................. 34 PART 2—THE ASSESSMENT 7—ASSESSMENT: PERSONNEL, ORGANIZATION AND ENTITIES FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PERSONNEL PERFORMING RESEARCH ........................................................................................... 37 OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY ............................................. 44 CENTERS AND INSTITUTES ......................................................................................................... 46 RELATED ENTITIES .................................................................................................................... 49 CONSULTANTS’ OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................. 50 8—ASSESSMENT: RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PERFORMANCE NDSU RESEARCH OVERVIEW .................................................................................................... 51 TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE DATA ....................................................................... 57 FACTORS IN RESEARCH PERFORMANCE: RESOURCES, POLICY, AND CULTURE ....................................... 58 CONSULTANTS’ OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................. 61 9—ASSESSMENT: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PARK OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 63 FOUNDING AND EARLY HISTORY ................................................................................................ 63 MISSION AND GOALS .............................................................................................................. 65 GOVERNANCE