Chairman Austin Shower presented Senate Bill 2256 to the committee as a request for one‑time state support to scale the Research and Technology Park in Fargo. The sponsor described a new business model to convert university and local research into commercial products for precision agriculture, defense and related markets.

Park representatives said the proposal seeks $7.5 million in state grant funding plus $7.5 million in matching funds to invest in infrastructure, technical staff and an entrepreneurial environment. CEO Brenda Wyland described the Park as a 501(c)(3) spun out of NDSU in 1999 with an industry‑heavy board and said the current strategy narrows focus to automation, robotics, sensing and AI that serve both ag and defense markets.

Wyland and other witnesses emphasized a planned collaboration with Carnegie Mellon’s National Robotics Engineering Center and cited examples of successful university‑industry translation at Carnegie Mellon, Stanford Research Institute and Purdue as models. “Having the ability to tap into [Carnegie Mellon’s] technical expertise while we build that critical mass here is exactly what we’re interested in doing,” Wyland said.

Lawmakers asked for details on governance, ownership, intellectual property (IP) policy and how the park will avoid competing with private companies. Wyland said the park will negotiate IP and contract terms case by case and will not “give IP away”; contracts may include background IP, foreground IP and negotiated licensing arrangements. She described the park’s role as problem‑solving, prototyping and helping companies scale to commercialization rather than becoming a direct manufacturing competitor.

Committee members pressed on board structure and state relationships. Wyland said the Park is an independent nonprofit with a 10‑member board, three seats reserved for NDSU and seven industry seats. She also said the park is rebranding to reduce confusion over the NDSU name. Representative Bosch and others sought specifics on ownership, tenant leases, ground‑lease income and whether the park would build and sell or retain facilities; Wyland said tenants could build on park land and that the park expects continued collaboration with the university and regional partners.

Supporters argued the investment would accelerate high‑value engineering jobs and royalties, contract revenue and lease income. Chair Schauer and others noted local and federal relationships including retired military endorsement and Senator Hoeven’s engagement. No formal committee vote occurred on SB 2256 during the hearing; committee members asked for follow‑up on IP policy templates, partnership agreements with Carnegie Mellon and a more detailed business and capital plan.

Notes: The Park currently hosts more than 600 workers and supporters estimate average salary contributions; the bill places reporting and oversight with the Industrial Commission and legislative management and describes the funding as one‑time.