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Idaho Creates New Science and Technology Office

TechConnect East will focus on creating jobs and developing high-tech business, and the state would like to create more regional offices.

POCATELLO, Idaho -- Gov. Dirk Kempthorne announced late last week the creation of TechConnect East, a regional science and technology office.

"Idaho is gaining a national reputation as a technology state and is the seventh-fastest growing high-tech state in the country," Kempthorne said in a statement. "High tech already accounts for nearly 40 percent of our gross state product, and is a $14.4 billion industry. This office will build on that and create new jobs and businesses for eastern Idaho."

TechConnect East is funded with $30,000 from Bechtel, $25,000 from the Eastern Idaho Economic Development Council (EIEDC) and $15,000 from the state. Officials said the new office will support job creation and high-tech business development in southeastern Idaho. The Bannock Development Corporation and Idaho State University will provide office and administrative support.

The new office will help the area expand a wide array of emerging industries, ranging from biotechnology and improving agriculture to software and systems development, said Dr. Bill Shipp, president and general manager of Bechtel's INEEL office in Idaho Falls.

Shipp said the new office should focus on specific areas of expertise in eastern Idaho, including information security, subsurface technology, environmental remediation, integrated circuit design, radiation sciences and particle acceleration.

The governor said the creation of the regional office meets several objectives of his Science and Technology Strategy for Idaho. The six-point plan, developed by a 23-member advisory group of representatives of industry and Idaho's higher education system, calls for increased investments in education and workforce training, research and development, university/industry collaboration, technology transfer, venture capital and broadband connectivity.

TechConnect East staff will report to a regional advisory board of personnel from the EIEDC, Bannock Development Corporation, the Regional Development Alliance, Idaho State University and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

In addition to TechConnect East, economic development officials said they hope to create regional offices in other parts of the state.

Office of Gov. Dirk Kempthorne