Issue Position: Technology

Issue Position

Issue Position: Technology

Technology, our fifth pillar, is the way of the future for North Dakota. By eliminating distances not only between our communities, but around the world, technology will create limitless possibilities for our state. Technology will also forge a new path for North Dakota as a leader in innovation, research and development.

Technology is becoming the way of the future for North Dakota. By eliminating distances not only between our communities, but around the world, technology is creating limitless possibilities for our state. Technology will also forge a new path for North Dakota as a leader in innovation, research and
development.

Creating Opportunities for Citizens and Businesses

• Technology based business is one of the five industries that Hoeven has targeted for growth in North Dakota. Hoeven has worked with companies including Microsoft, PacketDigital, Alien Technologies, Eagle Creek Software and Echelon to help them relocate to or expand their businesses in North Dakota. The Centers of Excellence also play a vital role in incubating
technological companies.

• The Centers of Excellence are also leaders in the state's research and development. The Center of Excellence for Technology Enterprise serves as the hub of business incubation and will serve to provide proactive, value-added support to start-up companies in the area of advanced
manufacturing, information technology, bioscience and advanced materials technology.

Encouraging Research and Development and Innovation

• Governor Hoeven worked to establish research and development tax credits, which are now the highest in the nation. These tax credits will provide an incentive for businesses to invest in new, innovative ideas. North Dakota's universities have already placed special emphasis on research
and development and this emphasis has helped the state increase the number of global patents filed. Global patents are a positive sign of innovation and economic development within the state.

Investing in Information Technology Infrastructure

• Since taking office, Governor John Hoeven has promoted information technology projects that have helped make businesses and government become more profitable and efficient. This has included enhancing the Criminal Justice Information System's Hub, which helps law enforcement agencies better protect the public by providing criminal information to our law
enforcement officials via a secure information hub; funding the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS); funding the GIS Hub, which benefits education, economic development, agriculture, energy, and technology; creating a central database to manage animal tracking and disease containment.

• Building technological infrastructures remain important for all institutions, but especially for higher education institutions as they strive to remain competitive on a global level. In order to assist them in doing so, Hoeven recently supported and helped pass a bill that will provide funding to build the infrastructure of the Northern Tier Network through North Dakota. The
Northern Tier Network is a part of a national research network infrastructure that serves entities within and outside this state and will help support the research and education missions of the North Dakota university system.

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