Montana State recognized for leadership in fostering economic growth, prosperity and innovation

BOZEMAN -Montana State University has been recognized for its leadership in fostering economic growth, prosperity and innovation.

This month, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, or APLU, extended MSU's designation as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. The distinction, which MSU has held since 2016, recognizes institutional commitment to economic engagement and work with public and private sector partners in Montana and the region.

APLU extended MSU's designation for another five years, reflecting MSU's efforts and accomplishments in contributing to economic well-being across Montana, according to Alison Harmon, MSU vice president for research and economic development.

"Montana State University is proud to accept a five-year extension of our designation as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity university by the APLU," Harmon said. "Our commitment to ensuring the university has a positive impact on talent, innovation and place is exemplified by this designation. We remain focused on working with communities across the state to improve their economic well-being and contribute in meaningful ways to their economic growth."

To be considered for the five-year extension, MSU submitted data related to institutional growth, especially research expenditures. MSU reported last fall that, for a fifth straight year, the university recorded an all-time high for those expenditures - the funding put toward scientific discovery and other scholastic and creative pursuits. MSU's annual report to the National Science Foundation showed that its research activities accounted for roughly $230 million during the fiscal year that ended last June. MSU is the largest research enterprise in the state, and its total expenditures exceed the research expenditures of all other institutions in the state combined.

The application noted that innovative sectors such as the photonics industry have found opportunities to thrive in Bozeman. There are now more than 45 photonics and quantum companies employing more than 1,000 people in Montana. The cluster of companies in this industry is a reflection, in part, of MSU's efforts: In 1995 MSU established the Optical Technology Center, with a vision to integrate faculty in several disciplines to develop technologies that could launch companies, provide an educated workforce and collaborate closely with the private sector.

Another part of the application involved MSU conducting six roundtable discussions with internal and external partners, including representatives from MSU Extension, the directors of research centers and institutes; the Gallatin College MSU advisory board; the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance; the board of the Southwest Montana Manufacturing Partnership; and the city of Bozeman's Economic Vitality Advisory Board.

"MSU is proud of our legacy growing and contributing to Montana's economy," said Mike Veselik, the university's director of economic development and impact. "The five-year extension of our Innovation and Economic Prosperity University designation is the beginning, not the end, of our economic development and engagement work. Montana State's success is inherently linked with Montana's success, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to sustainable economic growth benefitting the entire state."

MSU's original application for the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation came after more than a year of intensive institutional self-study and engagement with stakeholders to identify the strengths of the university's economic engagement enterprise, as well as areas for growth and improvement. As part of the self-study, the university identified three areas of institutional strength in economic engagement.

Since then, MSU has actively participated in the Innovation and Economic Prosperity program. In 2016, the university won an APLU award for its work to develop the photonics and optics industry in the Gallatin Valley, for a host of programs that illustrate MSU's dedication to serving Native American populations and for the university's efforts to advance entrepreneurship.

Then, in 2018, came the Connections Award recognizing MSU for its community, social and cultural development work. It recognized several ongoing programs, including a collaboration with the Fort Peck Indian Reservation where MSU nursing students deliver primary and preventative care to American Indian children; a digital storytelling partnership to help tribes address preservation of language, artifacts and oral histories; and a program known as Messengers for Health on the Crow Indian Reservation, which was developed to address health disparities such as low screening rates for cancers in Native women. The award is the grand prize in a competition that recognizes public research institutions for their economic engagement efforts, specifically their work with public- and private-sector partners in their states and regions to support economic development through innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.

A total of 91 institutions have now earned the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation. More information is available at aplu.org/our-work/innovation-and-economic-prosperity-universities-designation-and-awards-program/designees/.