It’s impressive when a new program gets such resounding support.
IGEM – which will encourage research and resulting commercializing of that research – has struck a statewide chord. Governor Otter has called for $5 million in funding for this program and it has the full support of all three university presidents, the Idaho National Laboratory, the Department of Commerce and top technology companies.
IGEM stands for Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission. The mission is to generate a new wave of entrepreneurial ventures that utilize technologies coming from our public institutions.
At a press conference this morning – braving a hefty little snowstorm -- Idaho Commerce Director Jeffery Sayer summed up the reasons to support it:
“It will help our economy. It will bring jobs.”
The press conference at Boise State University drew a crowd to hear BSU President Bob Kustra (pictured at the podium) call for support of the program. He also laid out the argument that research leads to technologies that lead to new companies.
