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A white Christmas has arrived in North Dakota! I was chatting with some other North Dakota ambasadors this week, some in-state and some out-of-state and all expressed such a strong bond to North Dakota, especially at Christmas time. It got me to thinking, why is that?
When I asked that very question, I got a variety of answers. Most people could remember some great Christmas present, or a visit from an unexpected relative, playing with cousins, or Grandma telling a Christmas tale, a favorite holiday tradition, but none of them spoke specifically of a link to North Dakota. That is when it hit me, that link to the state comes from the quality of life people find or remember having here. Holiday memories, at least all those I received when I asked, had one thing in common … family and friends, those roots that always call us here.
The time we make and spend with family and friends is always more precious at the holidays. In North Dakota, maybe we make a little more time year round to connect with our families and friends, to appreciate them outside of the holidays. Perhaps that’s why our bond to the state always calls us a little louder during the holidays, especially if we are outside her borders.
Holiday wishes to all our Ambassadors worldwide. North Dakota wishes you a Happy Everything and a prosperous New Year. View our Ambassador Greeting to you!
If you are wondering what to get this Ambassador for Christmas … all I want is MORE AMBASSADORS! Please get another North Dakota lover in our ranks and have them join our social networks.
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Join Officially at ExperienceND.com
YouTube
Words like “Bio Safety Level 3″ and “protease research” sound a little foreign to me when I think of North Dakota. They seem big and scientific, and to be honest, challenge me to think of North Dakota in a new way. This ambassador had never thought about the ground-breaking research that scientists and companies are conducting right in my own backyard, mostly because I didn’t know it was happening. Well, the cool thing is, it is happening!
Life science and bio-medical companies are beginning to recognize the benefits of doing business in North Dakota. The state has been working diligently to put in place the infrastucture and private and public partnerships that help support this growing industry. Programs like the Centers of Excellence are helping businesses to leverage the expertise of North Dakota researchers in our higher education facilities to innovate and grow their business in North Dakota.
The Center of Excellence in Life Science and Advanced Technologies, often referred to as COELSAT, features both wet lab and animal room spaces and houses the region’s only Bio Safety Level 3 germ reserach lab. It is the only lab in North Dakta that can be leased by the month, giving companies the opportunity to conduct specialized research without investing in their own costly infrastructure.
The Center for Passive Therapuetics is working to develop passive therapeutics (antibodies) from value-added ag products to combat virus and infectious disease.
The Center for Biopharmaceutical Research and Prodcution is working to discover new vacicines to help treat some of mankinds most challenging diseases.
The Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering is working on coatings with antimicrobial properties.
Avianax, a life science company based in Grand Forks, is creating therapeutic products using antibiodies from geese and goose products. These antibodies are proving effective against West Nile Virus in research being conducted right here in North Dakota.
Members of the state’s business development team are participating in events like the Life Science Alley Conference, being held in Minneapolis this week. The relationships built and the connections make at events like these help the state to continue to position itself for a bright future in this industry. Not to mention that both UND and NDSU, along with MoorheadState and Concordia College, are providing a strong base of research workforce in a variety of science-based study.
Life sciences will definitely be an industry to watch in the near future in North Dakota. To learn more about the industry, check out Comerce’s Life Sciences in North Dakota publication.
Tune in at http://www.urlradio.net and connect with North Dakota each Thursday from 10-10:30 a.m.
Commerce’s own radio program airs each Thursday from 10 – 10:30 a.m on URLRadio.net, Bismarck-Mandan’s local internet radio station. The program features Travel Talk with the Tourism Division the first Thursday of each month, and North Dakota Rocks the remaining Thursdays, featuring state happenings, Commerce programs and more. Simply set your browser to www.URLRadio.net and click the “Click here to Listen” link. You’ll be happy you did, and so will we!
Speaking of URL Radio, it just so happens that they are one of North Dakota’s entrepreneurs. Having started the station in 2008, Stacy Sturm and Nicole Morrison Mathern are working on making Bismarck’s first solely Internet radio station a success. And, just what are they doing to help them in the venture? Enrolling in the Innovate ND competition, of course! They had this to say about their decision to compete:
“Innovate ND is more than just a contest. It’s an experience,” says Sturm. “I’ve received guidance, support and mentoring that no amount of money could buy. That’s priceless to a new business owner.”
Deadline to enroll for this year's competition is December 4, 2009.
