UW-River Falls receives funds for Science and Technology Innovation Center

June 12, 2019 – University of Wisconsin-River Falls Chancellor Dean Van Galen expresses his gratitude to the Wisconsin legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) for its allocation of $2 million to fund partial design of the UWRF Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech).
 
This investment will fund design of the project to the 35% level, a critical benchmark that will enable UWRF to clarify the actual cost of construction and develop a complementary fundraising plan to engage private donors. These steps will then allow UWRF to seek construction funds for the project during the 2021-23 biennium.
 
“JFC member Representative Shannon Zimmerman from River Falls made this a priority and we greatly appreciate his work helping raise awareness of the value of the project to our campus, region and state with his JFC colleagues,” Van Galen said.

"We are also grateful for the investment allocated by the JFC for the Dairy Innovation Hub which will allow us, in partnershp with our UW colleagues, to reinforce capacity in support of the state's dairy industry," Van Galen added.

“We appreciate the expression of confidence in UW-River Falls on the part of the state legislature that these investments represent," Van Galen said. "We look forward to continuing to work with our legislators and the executive branch as the biennial budget makes its way forward in the state process.”

 
About the Science and Technology Innovation Center
The proposed SciTech project would house the departments of biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology/neuroscience providing modern laboratory spaces for instruction and undergraduate research to meet industry demands in STEM fields.
 
In line with UWRF's commitment to innovation and partnerships, SciTech would also include a university-business collaboration hub to support internships and incubation of joint research projects. The facility will play a vital role in supporting economic growth in Western Wisconsin by fostering collaboration between faculty, students and regional businesses.

For more information about SciTech, email beth.schommer@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-0662.