BUSINESS
Research bright spots identified
David Wichner
Arizona Daily Star

04/25/2003
The Arizona Daily Star
FINAL
D1
(Copyright 2003)

Arizona should stake its economic future on areas of core university research - including communications, computing, bioengineering and sustainable systems - where the state stands out nationally, according to a groundbreaking study unveiled Thursday in Tucson.

"Arizona's research universities are well-positioned to take advantage of growth in these markets," Walter Plosila, a vice president at the Battelle Memorial Institute, told members of the Governor's Council on Innovation and Technology during a meeting at the Manning House Downtown.

The report, sponsored by the state Department of Commerce, the Arizona Board of Regents and the universities, identified six research "core competencies" at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University that could benefit the state economically.

Aside from biomedical research, which was covered in an earlier Battelle report, the six core areas cited by Battelle are electronics and optics; computer modeling and simulation; chemistry and materials; space sciences; ecological sciences; and plant and agricultural sciences.

University research totaling $500 million last year represents an "economic engine" that could yield major benefits given the proper public and private investment, Plosila said.

Based on the amount and quality of research compared with other states, ecological sciences, electronics and optics, neural engineering, space sciences and plant sciences can become world- class "signature" research areas for Arizona, the report concluded.

"Ecological sciences is by far the largest, greatest core competency we have in this state, and it is truly impressive and world-class," Battelle researcher Adrian Roberts said.

Arizona's arid climate makes it a prime place to study ecological impacts and sustainability, Roberts said.

The Battelle researchers also found that the UA has the nation's top hydrology research program, and water resources research takes place at ASU and NAU as well.

Arizona's promise in ecological sciences surprised many attendees, including Gov. Janet Napolitano, who pledged support.

"It seems to me we need to exploit that now," she said.

But much work remains to translate research strengths into jobs and economic growth, Plosila warned.

"These things don't just happen overnight - you need to invest in them," he said.

Citing gaps in coordination and facilities, the report recommended new collaborative networks, stepped-up recruiting, centers to leverage federal funding and the faster transfer of research into the marketplace.

The next step, Plosila said, is to make "road maps" to move forward.

That process is in the works, said Gilbert Jimenez, director of the state Commerce Department.

The state Commerce and Economic Development Commission has approved $600,000 in funding to develop road maps in the areas of communications, information technology and sustainability, Jimenez said.

A separate study released Thursday by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at ASU found that public investment is needed to keep Arizona competitive with other states in attracting technology- based firms.

"Every state is in the game; every state is investing - this is a brain race," Morrison Institute Director Rob Melnick said.