A recent audit of the Centers of Excellence initiative said the program doesn't offer enough evidence of its success in creating private jobs, but UND's research vice president said local projects have generally outperformed the state's requirements.
Phyllis Johnson said she recently took a closer look at the state Department of Commerce program, which has spent more than $40 million on the state's colleges over the last four years.
The report from the state's auditor's office itself was somewhat vague, Johnson said, but she admitted it raises accountability issues officials need to be concerned about.
Four colleges do not have adequate documentation of the required $2 in private investment for every $1 in grant funds, according to the report.
UND's projects
ADVERTISEMENT
UND has been awarded eight Centers of Excellence projects overall, she said, including two to the university's Research Foundation and two more involved with unmanned aerial systems.
Johnson said she was able to look through the annual reports for five of these projects, and all but one had a higher than required private sector funding match. One even had a private match of $3.50 for every $1 in grant money.
"Generally speaking, I would say that we are doing quite well," she said. "I think we're doing a good job of bringing in money and in-kind contributions from other partners."
The projects also have created new partnerships with other universities and areas of the private sector, she said, but some are in their first year of funding, so it might be too early to see a lot of impact.
But the more mature projects have done well, she said. Three or four spinoff companies have been created, and the aerospace projects already have created about 20 private sector jobs with at least 50 more expected in the next five years.
"I think that's very encouraging overall for the potential that we will see as these Centers of Excellence continue to mature," Johnson said.
UND officials will continue to monitor the local results, she said, but she doesn't have any big concerns right now. "I think we're doing a pretty good job of being accountable."
Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send e-mail to rjohnson@gfherald.com .
