Linking Utah's Innovation Community
The mapping of the human genome was announced in articles in Science and Nature magazines in April 2003, opening an age of discovery that may rival the voyages of 1492. Utah’s research universities were involved in this project from its inception as scientists developed key technologies critical to the project’s success. As a result, Utah claims scientific leadership in gene manipulation, cellular processes, scientific instrumentation, information technologies, and bioengineering that will serve as the foundation to create companies to focus on regenerative medicine, infectious disease treatments, bio-defense, and agriculture among others. Additionally, involvement of the State’s research universities in the human genome project was the genesis of the Utah Population Database (UPD), which is built on merged medical records from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ genealogical records. It is a critical resource in the development of personalized medicine, which has already begun to revolutionize healthcare, medical diagnostics, and drug discovery.
Further, over the past twenty years more than 180 companies in Utah have been founded on university technologies, and over 120 of those are currently prospering. Companies such as Myriad Genetics, HyClone Laboratories, Sorenson Communications, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Watson Laboratories, and Evans and Sutherland are among those established and operating locally. This history of success is evidence that the University of Utah and Utah State University can successfully commercialize technologies that create new companies and employment opportunities that strengthen Utah’s economy.
To ensure this growth continues, USTAR was formed in March 2006 to leverage the proven successes of State universities by providing funds to help recruit talented research teams, build state-of-the-art research facilities, and assist in commercialization processes. The objective of USTAR is to stimulate additional technology-based start-up firms, and significantly increase technology commercialization, high-paying job opportunities, and business activity in Utah which will produce an associated expansion of the tax base.