Input sought from experts in industry
Kelly Thurman
The Argus Leader
September 29, 2010
A new biotech animal research facility could be in the future for South Dakota.
Gov. Mike Rounds announced Tuesday his intentions to build such a facility in the state during the Livestock Biotech Summit at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
The summit is the first national industrywide conference on genetically engineered animal technologies and drew about 200 people from as far as South Korea and New Zealand.
"Because biotech is so important in creating disease-free animals, South Dakota is taking the first steps in building a new biotech animal research facility," Rounds said.
The proposed project would build on the state's existing strength in animal health research, said Mel Ustad, director of commercialization for the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
Rounds said the proposed project is in the strategic conceptual design phase. He asked industry experts at the conference to give their input on how the center should be developed.
Though the state is getting the ball rolling, the driver of the project will be the private sector, Ustad said. If the private sector doesn't see a need, the project won't move forward.
Neither a location nor timeline has been set for the project.
The center is envisioned as a place for private industry and academic research, said Eddie Sullivan, president of the South Dakota Biotech Association and CEO of Hematech. Sullivan has been involved in the discussions of the new research facility as part of a task force.
Full text:
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100929/BUSINESS/9290305/1052/OPINION01
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