University of Montana looks to expand research that benefits economic growth

Research aimed at product development could play an increased role at the University of Montana in coming years, as it strives to become a top-tier research institution and an economic driver for the region, the school’s new head of research said Wednesday.

Scott Whittenburg, hired last December as the vice president of research and creative scholarship https://www2.umt.edu/Research/default.aspx , said UM will work to expand its research into areas that promise economic growth – a move that could bring new collaborations to western Montana, including funding, businesses and jobs.

"We’re already a research institution," Whittenburg said. "But one of our goals is to increase the amount of research we do and try to become a top-tier, or Carnegie ‘research very high’ institution."

By Martin Kidston

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/um-looks-to-expand-research-that-benefits-economic-growth/article_01a5adfa-ffd6-11e2-be93-001a4bcf887a.html