Observations
by Katharine C. Lyall, UW System President

Staying Focused

The University of Wisconsin is accustomed to playing a vital role in the economic life of the state.

Since its founding, our university has always educated the next generations of professionals and skilled workers. In the thirty years of the UW System's existence, more than 700,000 degrees have been conferred on UW students. The vast majority of those UW graduates still lives and works in Wisconsin.

For more than a century UW researchers have been making discoveries that have benefited the citizens of Wisconsin. From measuring butterfat content to identifying DNA sequences, UW scientists have been at the forefront of knowledge creation. And, in many cases, the knowledge they create leads to technology that spawns or grows important businesses in our state.

Under the energetic leadership of Regent President Jay Smith, two new and extremely important developments are unfolding. First, the UW System has begun to identify and engage in new ways to contribute to the economic life and health of the state. And, as a result, state policy-makers and private sector leaders have begun to recognize and appreciate the UW's expanded role.

Over the past 18 months, a group of UW Chancellors and UW colleagues have spearheaded regional planning efforts that are already having positive economic impacts. The UW officials, joined by business leaders, government officials, representatives of private colleges and the technical colleges, and others, have developed:

• TechStar, a new entity designed to commercialize the fruits of academic research in southeastern Wisconsin;
• A training program in computer chip design verification offered by UW-Eau Claire and Chippewa Valley Technical College at the behest of regional high-tech companies;
• A La Crosse-area angel investor group; and much more.

UW life science researchers are making major contributions to a burgeoning life-science/biotechnology industry cluster, especially UW-Madison Professor Jamie Thomson's human embryonic stem cell discoveries. High-technology companies are springing up in Wisconsin, particularly near the Madison and Milwaukee campuses, as researchers spin-off their intellectual property.

As part of an Economic Stimulus package in the 2001-2003 biennial budget, the UW System pledged to educate an additional 2,600 students annually in computer science, engineering and other disciplines seen as critical to the state's economy. In response, our campuses are increasing their enrollments in these key areas, but not as much as we hoped because of impending budget cuts.

The UW System also pledged to establish an online job bank to match Wisconsin employers and UW alumni. Governor Scott McCallum hailed the new program, called "Wisconsin Jobs for Wisconsin Grads," in November at the Wisconsin Economic Summit II.

All of this activity is making a strong, positive impression on state leaders. At the economic summit in Milwaukee, state legislators, federal lawmakers, the governor and lieutenant governor all enthusiastically acknowledged the UW System's contributions.

It is tempting, during this time of budget-cutting and budget anxiety, to turn our attention away from our economic development role and focus on immediate concerns and core programs. But it is imperative, for the long-term health of the state, that we also stay focused on continuing to grow the Wisconsin economy.