What is the Science and Technology
Innovation Center (SciTech)?

The Science and Technology Innovation Center will be a new type of facility which will provide immersive high-impact learning experiences for our students and support productive collaborations with regional and Wisconsin businesses.

This proposed new facility is critical to addressing outdated science facilities and ensuring UW-River Falls is able to effectively educate students by providing an affordable and high-quality education, by increasing undergraduate research opportunities, and by meeting industry demand in Wisconsin’s high growth industries. The facility will have an impact on the entire campus, serving students from a wide range of majors.

The case for SciTech on the UW-River Falls campus is not about a building – it’s about the future … possibilities, engagement and growth … opportunities for students, faculty, staff … viability and vitality for communities, businesses and the Western Wisconsin region.
 

Building the Talent Pipeline

Benefitting from eastward expansion of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, UW-River Falls is in one of the fastest growing regions of the state, with growth outpacing census estimates and St. Croix County projected to grow 41%.

Growing STEM and agriculture industries in our region mean Western Wisconsin is an economic driver for the state. With its educational and recreational offerings and its four business parks, River Falls is an ideal location for new and growing business ventures.

The quality of a UW-River Falls education is the linchpin for their talent pipeline.

 

State Invests in SciTech

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will benefit significantly from funding in the 2021-23 Wisconsin state budget, which was signed into law by Governor Tony Evers. View the full release here.
 

How can you help?
 

Add your voice in support of the Science and Technology Innovation Center
 

I'm a SciTech Advocate

SciTech Quick Facts

• 72,230 net square feet of space (131,300 gross square feet)

• 32 undergraduate research spaces totaling 22,240 square feet of space

• 12,590 square feet of shared/interdisciplinary space

• 12 Instructional labs

• UW-River Falls/Business Collaboration Innovation Space: three wet bench research labs, prototyping space/makerspace/fabrication lab, collaboration area, a conference room and three offices

Other Key Points

• This is one of only a handful of new construction projects on the UW System capital budget list. 83% of projects are for repair or replacement of aging facilities. New construction is limited to projects that meet the state’s need for growth in STEM and health fields.

• This project does not add to our campus footprint as it will be replacing an obsolete building which cannot be renovated.

Feasibility Study and Project Program

 

Feasibility Study

Project Program

 

STEM Graduates

 

UWRF Enrollment Growth in STEM

Collaboration with Business and Industry

The new facility will offer a UW-River Falls/Business Innovation Collaboration Space to support internships and incubation of joint university-business projects.

• Collaborative product development from ideation through engineering and prototyping
• Material and chemical analysis
• University/industry collaborative research projects in science-related fields
• Computer aided design
• 3D printing
• Product prototyping using tools and tables in the maker space
• Public access to materials and equipment to foster regional innovation and entrepreneurship