Governor Otter Visits Campus Emphasizing UI's critical role in the success of IGEM

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter visited the University of Idaho campus Feb. 6 to talk about the governor’s Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission, or IGEM, proposal.  On behalf of Idaho’s businesses and workers, Otter has proposed $2 million in state funding for research projects that yield economic results.

At its core, IGEM would create working partnerships between the public and private sectors to build up the state’s knowledge-based economy. It’s designed to increase the research capacity of Idaho’s universities in strategic areas that can help Idaho’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.
 
“Through IGEM, the University of Idaho will continue to lead the way in developing the ideas and the leaders needed to grow our economy,” said University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis.
 
In its report to both the National Science Foundation and the State Board of Education last year, research expenditures at the University of Idaho reported research expenditures totaled nearly $100 million, more than 70 percent of all university-level research expenditures generated by Idaho institutions.