North Dakota
Science and Technology Plan

targeted industries: Advanced Manufacturing

North Dakota has a long history of strength in manufacturing. With manufacturing accounting for 7.3 percent of North Dakota's Gross State Product, North Dakota has continued to see expansion within this industry sector despite other areas of the United States experiencing retractions in this industry sector.

Impact Dakota (North Dakota’s MEP partner) reported that the North Dakota manufacturers they served in 2022 had $667.2 Million in total sales retained/gained, 354 jobs retained/gain, $2.1M total cost savings and $10M in new investments. This contributed to the $5.02 Billion in industry outputs North Dakota manufacturers delivered in 2022 per BEA and the 64.8% GDP growth seen between 2012 and 2022.

The North Dakota Department of Commerce reports that “future expansion of our manufacturing sector will come not from labor growth, but rather from innovation and productivity gains, as well as a strong focus on developing foreign markets.”

ND Department of Commerce launched Automate ND which is designed to provide financial support to North Dakota primary sector certified businesses who are facing a workforce shortage. The funds may be used for the purchase or lease of machinery, equipment, and software (upfront configuration/setup costs) to automate existing processes to increase output per employee and provide opportunities for upskilling.
Included in the category of advanced manufacturing are technology-based businesses including biosciences and the AgTech industries.

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Bioscience subsector

North Dakota is experiencing growth in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors. The state is home to leading research institutions and healthcare facilities that are driving advancements in medical research, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare delivery. Biotechnology companies are leveraging North Dakota's expertise in agriculture and natural resources to develop bioproducts, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals derived from renewable sources. This convergence of healthcare and biotechnology holds potential for creating high-paying jobs and attracting investment in research and development.

Bioscience subsectors being targeted by the region include:

• Medical and Testing Laboratories

• Medical Device and Equipment

• Medical Product Distribution

• Pharmaceuticals and Therapeutics

• Research and Development

• Vaccine Therapeutic Development

• Plant Biotechnology

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AgTech subsector

North Dakota's agricultural innovation ecosystem is characterized by collaboration between farmers, researchers, technology developers, industry partners, and government agencies. The North Dakota Agriculture Experiment Station, Extension Services, and grower organization support research, extension, and technology adoption efforts, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the state's agricultural sector

AgTech subsectors being targeted by the region include:

• Precision agriculture equipment 

• Agricultural drones equipped with cameras, sensors, and software for crop monitoring, mapping, and analysis

• Farm management software platforms.

• Equipment manufacturing

Research and Educational opportunities

Sensor and Automation Capabilities. NDSU has capabilities that span early theoretical (R&D) research, prototyping new platforms, translational research and commercial implementation in both of these major areas. Biomedical sensor research focuses on the development and design of electronic devices and sensors based on nanomaterials, including nanomaterial fabrication, device design and modeling, and variable sensing techniques. In agricultural sensors, research focuses on the development and design of electromagnetic sensors (microwave, images, RADAR, LIDAR, etc.) for the agricultural industry, and on the development and design of environmentally friendly materials for sensor applications in the field. Expertise includes the application and education of automation for engineers.

In addition, NDSU has Class 100 and 10,000 cleanrooms and equipment for research and workforce development in electronics fabrication. 77,000 ft2 of cleanroom, laboratory and engineering spaces that house design, synthesis, fabrication and characterization capabilities.

The UND College of Engineering and Mines is home to an undergraduate and graduate program in biomedical engineering which sponsors the BioInnovation Zone (BIZ). The BIZ is dedicated to fostering innovation and industry interaction in the field and serves as a hub for cutting-edge research and development. The BIZ supports a wide range of industry projects, and uses an innovation-based learning approach to identify solutions that make a significant impact in the field of biomedical engineering.  The BIZ also works closely with the Biomedical Engineering Research Complex (BERC), a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to bioengineering collaboration. The BERC provides researchers with access to cutting-edge equipment and technology, including 3D printing, imaging, and simulation tools. This allows researchers to conduct cutting-edge research and develop new technologies that can be used to improve healthcare and medicine. In addition, UND is opening a nanofoundry and has a Class 1000 clean room with major instrumentation.

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Additional Areas of Research Supporting Advanced Manufacturing

• ​Robotics and automation

• Biotechnology and biomanufacturing

• Agricultural and construction equipment

• Additive manufacturing

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Emerging AND New Research Areas for advanced manufacturing

• Supply chain

• Industrial and manufacturing engineering

• Microelectronics and nanomaterials