A South Dakota School of Mines student works
in the university’s robotics laboratory.
When it comes to creating new
ideas and products, faculty at the South Dakota
School of Mines & Technology produce a fantastic return on investment. The
numbers show that Mines faculty are three times more inventive than the
national average.
On average, $2.6 million is invested
for every invention generated at a university. At SD Mines that ratio is closer
to $885,000 per invention. Since 2011, SD Mines faculty have submitted more than
106 invention disclosures. (These disclosures are a step towards a United
States patent.)
The ideas generated at SD Mines
tackle some of the world’s biggest problems. This includes advancements in
clean energy, fuel efficiency, medicine, security, new materials and medical devices,
and new methods for efficient manufacturing and repair.
“The culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship fostered at SD Mines and supported by the surrounding
community has the potential to yield even more breakthroughs, new ideas and products
that can be commercialized to have a global impact,” says Mines President Jim
Rankin.
In the effort to foster continued tech-based
economic growth, SD Mines is hosting a Regional Investor Forum. The forum, from
12 -5 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, brings together industry leaders, research
scientists, tech start-ups, venture capitalists and angel investors. During the
event, successful high-tech start-ups in the area and new ideas generated at
Mines will be showcased. The keynote speaker, Ross DeVol with the Walton Family Foundation,
will deliver an address titled “Characteristics
of Innovation Places: The role of the university and entrepreneur in fostering
economic growth.” The regional
investor forum is open to members of the press.
The annual Student Research
Symposium and Design Fair are two other spring events that highlight the
innovation and creativity flourishing at SD Mines. The 2019 Research Symposium
is from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. April 9 and the Design Fair is from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. April
16. Both events, held in the Surbeck
Center Ballroom on the Mines Campus, are free and open to the public.
Members of the press who are
interested in attending any of these upcoming events should contact Marketing and Communications at SD Mines.