Arkansas Research Alliance pushes for private, federal research funds

Launching two programs designed to increase access to private and government research dollars are key 2009 actions promised by the Arkansas Research Alliance in its 2009 annual report released Tuesday (Oct. 6).

The Arkansas Research Alliance, a group pledged to “accelerate economic development and cultivate a vibrant knowledge-based economy in Arkansas” formed in January 2009 as an outgrowth of Accelerate Arkansas. In 2007, the Arkansas legislature approved the appropriation of start-up operational funding for the ARA from the state’s general improvement fund, according to a statement from the group. Funding was authorized through the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.

In April, the ARA released the Battelle report, which identified the state’s strengths and weaknesses with respect to advancing toward a more diversified economy. The Battelle report identified Arkansas’ best options for allocating research dollars — and for tapping future federal funds — is in the areas of:
• Enterprise Systems Computing
• Distributed Energy Network Systems
• Optics and Photonics
• Nano-related Materials and Applications
• Sustainable Agriculture and Bioenergy
• Food Processing and Safety
• Personalized Health Research
• Behavioral Research for Chronic Disease Management
• Obesity and Nutrition

In Tuesday’s annual report, ARA officials said they are working to launch the ARA Scholars program and the ARA Research Conference Pilot Program.

The scholars program would tap “broadly referenced publishers,” academic leaders, and “proven collaborators and entrepreneurs” to help the ARA and Arkansas universities focus on studying the research areas mentioned in the Battelle report.

The research program will use moneys from the Rockefeller Institute, Walton Family Foundation and ARA private funds to organize research conferences related to the areas mentioned in the Battelle report.

“Focused on commercialization and multi-campus collaboration, the conferences present an opportunity to build relationships that will lead to increased federal research dollars,” according to a statement in the ARA annual report.

The ARA’s strategy of supporting job-creating research and is modeled after the successful Georgia Research Alliance (GRA). The GRA is credited with advancing Georgia’s reputation for being an academic center for discovery and invention, according to the ARA statement. In 17 years, the GRA has created thousands of high-paying jobs and achieved a number of major advances in science, medicine and technology.