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In his forward-looking State of the State address Tuesday, Governor Jon Huntsman enthusiastically endorsed USTAR, the visionary Utah Science, Technology and Research Economic Development Initiative.
KSL shares the vision and likewise encourages lawmakers to approve a funding package that promises to pay unprecedented dividends in coming years.
It sounds like a lot of money, and it is: $25 million in ongoing annual funding to support research teams at Utah State and the University of Utah; $250 million for infrastructure support, which includes a couple of buildings at the universities; $3 million in ongoing funding to support business innovation outreach centers around the state.
In KSL’s view, it would be money well-spent.
The idea is to place Utah at the cutting edge of the next generation of high tech innovations – to target high-potential research projects, and develop and nurture homegrown companies that will provide high-paying jobs in order to secure the state’s economic future. For example, Utah, with its vast genealogical database, is especially well-positioned to capitalize on revolutionary advances in the emerging discipline of genomics.
Brains, not brawn, as one economist has said, will likely determine Utah’s future. In KSL’s view, USTAR can become the primary catalyst for capitalizing on the state’s greatest resource, her people. We hope lawmakers catch the vision.
