UTAH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH INITIATIVE Overview The Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR) is a long-term, state-funded investment to strengthen Utah’s leadership in the “knowledge economy” and to generate high-paying jobs in the technology sector. Funded in March 2006 by the State Legislature, USTAR is based on three program areas, AllStar Faculty, State-of-the-Art Research Facilities, and Tech Outreach, each discussed within this report. USTAR is ahead of schedule in attracting leading research talent and supporting their efforts in USTAR’s key Innovation Development areas as summarized in the following table. Projections for June 30 ’08
Actual (Cumulative)
Actual vs. Projections
All-star faculty hired
15
20
133%
Research actively underway
9
11
122%
External research awards
$2.7 mm
$9.03 mm
334%
N/A
$67.8 mm
Ahead of plan
Patents filed
0
2
Ahead of plan
Companies started in Utah
0
1
Ahead of plan
New companies under development
0
4
Ahead of plan
Companies brought to Utah
0
1
Ahead of plan
Category
Total awards proposed
Individual Programs All-Star Faculty The first program area involves funding at the University of Utah and Utah State University to recruit worldclass researchers working in billion-dollar markets. USTAR has focused investment in five key Innovation Development areas. This effort is budgeted at $15 million a year.
Governor’s Office of Economic Development • Annual Report 2008
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