MSU Outlines Economic Development Plan

(PRESS RELEASE) A new report finds Mississippi State actively engaged with a wide variety of industries that are growing local, regional and state economies, while also contributing to partnerships that foster international exchange and trade.

“Our central economic development objective is to strengthen collaborations between the university, organizations and businesses to create high-wage jobs,” said Melvin Ray, the university’s associate vice president for economic development.

The MSU Office of Research and Economic Development today [Nov. 26] released “University-Industry Engagement Report, FY2013” that details the university’s economic development-related activities and their impact. The entire report is available at www.research.msstate.edu/ecodev.

The document provides a summary of the land-grant institution’s efforts to enhance economic opportunity in Mississippi and beyond, based on a survey of participating MSU research centers, institutes and the campus-based Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

According to its chief research officer, the university’s commitment to help expand the state’s economy is by design.

“We have taken purposeful steps to make innovation, entrepreneurship and community engagement priorities on our campus; we have been building that culture with students, faculty and staff,” said David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development.

Among other points, the report notes that:

–The highest number of completed projects was in Oktibbeha (60), Lee (29) and Hinds (28) counties.

–Sizes of companies receiving assistance in the 2013 fiscal year ranged from student-led start-ups to multi-national corporations.

–A neutral, third-party has estimated that, in collaborative work with a number of companies, the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension Office had a $1 billion annual impact over the past five years.

“We deploy a wide range of tools to enhance opportunity and establish profitable connections, such as the Economic Development Assistance Network,” Ray said.

“EDAN was created as a resource for economic developers, business owners, entrepreneurs and others in business and industry, and is designed to quickly connect them with Mississippi State experts and their expertise,” he added.