Consider, then, that the U. and USU in fiscal year 2003 accounted for 13,280 jobs as a result of 60 companies that exist in some way because of university research. That's $467.6 million in income and $37.5 million in state tax revenues coming from people who work for companies like Myriad Genetics in the U. Research Park and the Space Dynamics Laboratory on USU's Innovation Campus.

"They're engines for economic growth," said Jan Crispin-Little, a senior analyst with the U. bureau.

USU President Kermit Hall said in order for continued growth at the Innovation Campus, federal support needs to increase. For that to happen, he said the state needs to help with funding for more and better lab space.

"We're basically at the end of our tether when it comes to lab space," Hall said.

The state, he added, needs to help the U. and USU recruit key research groups by matching dollars raised by each school toward that goal. The U. and USU also should be rewarded with funding based on the amount of research-generated technology they transfer into commercial applications, Hall said.

Studies outside Utah over the past 10-15 years indicate a "strong" correlation between a successful state economy and the existence of a research university in the area, said Rod Linton, director of the Utah Office of Technology and Science.

"That is absolutely true here in Utah," he said. "It's very critical to our economy that we have these universities."

With the private Brigham Young University, there are actually three "research" universities in Utah, noted Michael Keene, a state science adviser. The economic impact of all three, he said, runs deep.

"There's a lot more of the economy that can trace its roots back to the universities than people realize," Keene said.

The point U. trustee Randy Dryer and others want legislators to see is that the U. and USU impact the whole state.

"It's just a much tougher sell," Dryer said, that is, if lawmakers think that the U. and USU only impact the communities where they're located.

In areas of health sciences, agricultural research, educational outreach and field studies, Dryer and others noted, the U. and USU have their fingers in all corners of the state.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com