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Governor Otter signs IGEM into law

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter
On Wednesday March 14, I was joined by leaders from the private sector, our colleges and universities, as well as the Idaho Legislature as I signed into law one of the signature pieces of my legislative agenda this session. The Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission or "IGEM" seeks to attract top researchers, create intellectual property, enhance our competitiveness and strengthen Idaho's economy.

IGEM involves our research universities, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) and our private-sector companies working together to create new businesses and expand existing businesses by commercializing applied research and development. I envision IGEM being the mechanism by which we leverage the next great idea from one our whiz kids in the private sector, fine-tune it with the help of the brilliant minds at an Idaho university or research center, and turn that idea into a commodity that can be placed on a marketplace shelf.

I am delighted and grateful to all the lawmakers, as well as business and civic leaders who voiced support for this forward-thinking approach to our economy. I also want to thank the presidents of our Idaho universities and leaders at CAES and the INL for all their tremendous support. We couldn't have done it without you!