Utah Tech University

Proposed Innovation District

To fulfill the University’s mission as a regional center for innovation and entrepreneurship, UT launched the Innovation Guidance and Solutions Center (IGSC) in the fall of 2016 and the Atwood Innovation Plaza (AIP) in 2018. Since its opening, IGSC has produced over 220 patent applications from students, faculty, staff, and community members, while more than 50 businesses have grown through the AIP Incubator. Demand for space and resources at Atwood Innovation Plaza currently outpaces supply. The decision was made in 2021 to explore an expansion of AIP by creating a new “Innovation District,” located within the relatively new 183-acre UT “South” Campus.(a.k.a. Desert Color Campus)

Julie Wagner and Bruce Katz from the Brookings Institute defined an Innovation District in the landmark 2014 report The Rise of Innovation Districts. “These districts, by our definition, are geographic areas where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators and accelerators.”

What is an Innovation District

They are areas where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators, and accelerators. Three broad assets are blended in an Innovation District to create a vibrant innovation and business development ecosystem, including physical, economic, and networking assets. An Innovation District is designed to promote high interaction and connectivity within a compact area. Through deliberate planning, it facilitates accidental business collisions and serendipitous collaborations. This is known as bumpability™. (Dr. Wayne Provost, Mr. Jeffrey Stewart, and Mr. Wyatt Anderson have trademarked the term bumpability™.)

As noted by RTI International, an Innovation Ecosystem is “The foundation of an innovation district, and understanding the former is essential to understand the value of the latter. Innovation ecosystems are networks of organizations and people that interact to cultivate ideas into successful enterprises. Like natural, biological ecosystems, they consist of many different moving parts—universities and research institutes, human capital, information technology infrastructure, financial capital, private sector, and government.”

Campus Site

The 183 acres of the Utah Tech University South Campus is an elongated strip of land at the corner of River Road and the Southern Parkway (See the light blue plot of land). It is south of the Career and Technical High School (opened August 2023) and across the road, northeast of an undeveloped portion of the Desert Color neighborhood. The acquisition of the 183-acre property came about a few years ago as the “Dixie Campus” is nearly at capacity. This ~110-acre space has nowhere to expand; it is landlocked by the surrounding neighborhood and typography. Moreover, academic expansion and programming are key. The main campus has taken decades to build; facility creation has accelerated since Utah Tech received university status.

Planning

Process

Following purchasing the South Campus property, a visioning process was launched in the fall of 2021 by assembling information about the history, purpose, and activities that characterize an “Innovation District” into a visioning document. This booklet has been distributed to university, city, county, industry officials, and regional stakeholders to gather feedback about the proposed district’s need, viability, and general nature. The positive response and valuable feedback from these discussions prompted the launch of a formal planning process.

Mission

The mission is to provide exceptional higher education while advancing economic vitality for societal benefit through a vibrant ecosystem of scientific and technological research, invention, innovation, and commercialization.

Vision

The UT Innovation is to be at the forefront of developing and commercializing groundbreaking technologies that shape the future of desert living, genomics, and endurance sport performance while providing students with exceptional opportunities for experiential learning.

Planning Subcommittees

Five planning sub-committees were established in the fall of 2022. They are populated with regional experts and stakeholders. The five subcommittees’ subject areas are:

  • mission and strategies
  • governance and operations
  • funding and finance
  • partnerships and tenants
  • community connections

The subcommittees are comprised of people from:

  • Utah Tech University
  • Washington County
  • City of St. George
  • Dixie Power
  • St. George Economic Development
  • Former State Representative
  • Desert Color
  • Precision Genomics
  • Rocky Vista University
  • World Trade Center Utah
  • Dixie Technical College
  • Intermountain Health
  • Washington City
  • St. George Chamber of Commerce
  • Tech Ridge

Core Industry Sectors

DeserTech

  • Renewable Energy
  • Water Conservation
  • AgTech
  • Sustainable Construction Tech
  • Desert Health
  • Desert Infrastructure
  • Waste Management

Genomics

  • Personalized Medicine
  • Diagnostics
  • Pharmacogenomics
  • Agrigenomics
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Data Analysis & Management
  • Consumer Genetics

Endurance Sport Tech

  • Endurance Racing & Events
  • Apparel & Equipment
  • Fitness & Sport
  • Sport Tourism
  • Military/Defense
  • Health & Wellness
  • Extreme Conditions

Platform Technologies

  • Bio-Technology Systems: Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering
  • Data Science Systems: Applied AI, Machine Learning, IoT, Computing
  • Engineering Systems: Mechanical, Electrical, Robotics
  • Biochemistry Systems: Biological Sciences, Geosciences, Chemistry
  • Sport technology Systems:Biomechanics, Neuromuscular Functions, Physiology, Psychology
  • Design and Prototyping Systems: Design, Prototyping, Fabrication

Timeline

A formal planning process for a proposed Innovation District was launched in the fall of 2022 to produce a comprehensive planning document. A comprehensive plan aims to provide the framework for a possible Innovation District as one component of the South Campus Master Plan. The first edition of the comprehensive plan was delivered in fall 2023; an updated version is in the works. Moreover, the Master Plan draft will be available fall 2024. However, there is no breakground date scheduled at this time.

Role of Partner Organizations

Developed primarily through public-private partnerships, the proposed UT Innovation District will facilitate co-ops and internships, encourage ideas, create new educational experiences, further technology, and foster explorations and investigations. The university-industry collaborations will build on the University’s commitment to student success by designing creative solutions that many growth sectors throughout the Intermountain West region encounter. These relationships will also enable the university and industry partners to open new career paths for students while providing a skilled workforce for changing industry needs, thereby contributing to regional economic development. Integrating the university’s start-up, incubator, and accelerator elements, tech transfer can enhance translational pieces and interdisciplinary collaborations in ways that reflect the multiple intersecting growth sectors supporting Utah’s Southwest regional innovation economy.

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Utah Tech Proposed Innovation District Core Sectors
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Contact

Cheryle Caplinger

Innovation District Project Manager

Email: Cheryle.Caplinger@utahtech.edu