President and CEO of Development Corporation of Austin, John Garry (left) and Vice President for Research and Innovation, Shashank Priya (right), attend the Development Corporation of Austin Annual Meeting on May 13.
On May 13, University of Minnesota Vice President for Research and Innovation Shashank Priya presented at the Development Corporation of Austin’s annual meeting, held in Austin, Minnesota. The event brought together local business leaders, executives, local officials, and The Hormel Institute representatives to discuss the statewide impact of UMN research on Minnesota’s economy, workforce, and overall quality of life.
The University’s commitment to advancing statewide innovation was a focus of this event. Priya highlighted the University's support for The Hormel Institute’s new Minnesota Bioimaging Center (MBiC)—a state-of-the-art research, workforce training, and educational center that will advance scientific progress throughout Minnesota and the Midwest and develop the next generation of research leaders.
Priya also discussed a new program, Future of Advanced Agricultural Research in Minnesota (FAARM), which has a vision of feeding a growing population while preserving and protecting the planet. This program will provide a first-of-its-kind place for teaching, research, and outreach in Mower County (where Austin is the county seat) through a real-world farm setting that combines agriculture, engineering, robotics, biological, and information technologies in an agro-ecological context. With hopes to propel vital discoveries, this program will further establish Minnesota as a global catalyst and leader in food and agriculture innovation, advancing the state’s $112 billion economic impact in these sectors. These efforts are part of a broader goal to ensure UMN’s research enterprise supports communities across Minnesota.
The meeting provided a platform for strengthening relationships between the University and rural Minnesota stakeholders as they work together to promote economic development and shared innovation goals.