II. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

Vermont Centers of Excellence

A. Introduction

The Vermont Technology Council proposes that four centers of excellence be established in four targeted areas of science and technology opportunity. The term "Center of Excellence" refers to a collaborative research and development effort involving resources from the academic, business and government communities. Centers of Excellence thus do not need to be places or buildings, but they are cooperative structures in which researchers and business people are working together to achieve a certain commercial result.

The Centers of Excellence proposed in support of economic development in Vermont at their inception will be at very different stages of development. The Vermont Food Science Center is the most completely developed of the initiatives.

The Vermont Biotechnology Center, on the other hand, will initially involve only a small group of experts from academia and the private sector who will work with the UVM researchers to identify potential technology transfer opportunities and to organize the activities necessary to move this potential along the path toward commercialization.

It is the goal that every center of excellence over time will become a selffunding entity. The funding will come from contract research for industry, government research and development grants, foundation support, industry association support, or membership dues. At very early stages, start up help from the State of Vermont may be required.