Research and Development
The base of research and development activity in Fargo Moorhead is solid and growing. The private sector and academia engage in an impressive array of R&D aimed at using cutting edge technology to make the world better and our lives easier. Companies benefit from business-focused public policy, such as the most generous R&D tax credit in the nation, and Fargo Moorhead's educated and dedicated workforce.
Fargo Moorhead is becoming a hot-bed of private sector research and development in the area of smart technologies and embedded systems. Businesses such as Bobcat, Echelon, Intelligent InSites, John Deere, Microsoft and Packet Digital are pushing the envelope to find new ways to conserve energy, cut costs in the supply-chain, and make farm and construction equipment more efficient and user friendly. The importance of smart technology will continue to increase as the shift to environmentally-friendly public policy becomes even stronger.
The cornerstone of academic research in Fargo Moorhead is North Dakota State University (NDSU), a land-grant research institution. The National Science Foundation has ranked NDSU 42nd among 517 research universities without a medical school. The university's professors are well known for their research in biotechnology, chemistry, and biocidal/antimicrobial polymers and coatings. The university benefits from partnerships with government agencies that fund research in the energy, defense, and agricultural industries.
Partnerships between the private sector and the universities spark mutual benefits. Businesses gain access to state-of-the-art equipment and top-notch minds while students, faculty, and researchers develop their skills and advance the body of knowledge in their respective fields. It is a perfect combination and a key reason for Moody's Economy.com ranking as the most economically vital metropolitan area in the United States.
To learn more about the community's capabilities in the growth sectors of information technology, physical sciences and life sciences, please explore the links on your left.