Otter: University Research Key To Idaho’s Future

Gov. C.L. ?Butch? Idaho said research being done in Idaho?s universities is the state?s future.

Otter told an audience at Idaho State University about the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission, or IGEM, on Wednesday.

He says the project is all about teamwork ? getting universities working together and those universities working with businesses.

“IGEM actually brings together all our intellectual assets in the state. From our universities, our research and development assets that we have at the state universities, and that partners up in our private sector,? Otter said.

He said it?s one of his top priorities for the year.

“The reason I’m so passionate about it because that it is our future. The reason I’m so passionate in engaging university campuses is because it’s our workforce of the future,? Otter said.

Eric Burgett, an ISU researcher at the vent, said this idea may have already started bearing fruit.

“Heck, just in the hallway I had somebody come forward that asked to be able to commercialize some of the technology I proposed today,? which included a new type of wireless sensing technology to go inside a nuclear reactor. ?So there’s a lot of opportunities here for what we’re doing to be able to be spun up into companies.?

Otter has recommended $3 million to help fund the project.