Senate panel backs high-tech incentives legislation

A Senate committee has approved a bill that would help the state take its first steps toward paying for new buildings, equipment and scientists for high-tech research and development.

SB192, several supporters say, is vital to Utah remaining competitive with other states that already have made huge financial commitments to research infrastructure.

Ultimately, supporters envision needing $250 million in research infrastructure at the University of Utah and Utah State University, $25 million for regional "technology innovation centers," $25 million in ongoing investment for targeted research "clusters" consisting of the research scientists, and $1 million in ongoing spending to support the centers.

One center would be in either Davis or Weber counties, another would be in Utah County and the third would be in either Iron or Washington counties.

But to get all that rolling, SB192 seeks $4 million for programming and preliminary design, $4 million in research equipment and $6 million for research cluster hiring.

Utah State eventually would be home to a Life Sciences Institute, an Infectious Disease Center and an Informatics/Computing Center. The U. would be home to a Brain Institute and an Information Technology and Bioinformatics Center.

"We're not just trying to stay even at this point in time, but we're trying to keep from losing ground from where we have been," Lane Beattie, president and chief executive officer of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, told the committee Friday. "As you know, in the last year, we've had over $500 million come into those two institutions alone in science, research and technology. We simply need to keep it going. . . . Our problem is that we're right now subject to losing some of those scientists that are bringing in that $500 million a year."

Scott Anderson, president and CEO of Zions Bank, said the bill would "create jobs and taxes and benefits for the state."

"We are now in danger of falling behind in developing high-technology businesses," Anderson said. "From a business standpoint, we think this is critical to ensure the future viability of our economy."

He, too, noted moves by other states to pony up funds for research and development. "If we can't match that, we will lose the people who are doing the research to these other states, to the detriment of our economy," he said.

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