EPSCoRProject LocatorSouth Dakota EPSCoR

South Dakota EPSCoR

Funding Mechanism: Jurisdiction Office

Jurisdiction: South Dakota

Institutions: South Dakota Board of Regents

Project Lead

Patrick Weber

Director of Research and Economic Development

South Dakota Board of Regents

Lean more about Patrick Weber

The South Dakota EPSCoR program is a statewide initiative that helps strengthen research capacity, workforce development, and innovation across South Dakota. South Dakota was one of the initial jurisdictions to participate in the EPSCoR program, starting in 1987. South Dakota has used the program to expand scientific competitiveness, attract federal research funding, and support collaboration among universities, researchers, and industry.

SD EPSCoR is administered through the South Dakota Board of Regents and has partnered with the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development to help establish relationships between institutional researchers and industry, and to implement the South Dakota Science and Technology Plan 2030. The program’s goals include advancing world-class research, developing research infrastructure and talent, promoting technology transfer, and fostering economic growth through science and innovation. By aligning research, education, and economic development efforts, SD EPSCoR helps South Dakota build long-term competitiveness in science and technology.

Please contact us using the email address listed below.

SDEPSCoR@sdbor.edu

South Dakota Science and Technology Plan 2030

The South Dakota Science and Technology Plan 2030 was adopted in March 2025, and it emphasizes the need for the state to invest in research and commercialization to promote economic growth and diversification. It also aims to develop a highly skilled workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Vision: South Dakota aims to invest in research and commercialization to foster economic growth and diversification while educating a well-prepared STEM workforce.
Mission: The goal is to invest in research and commercialization activities, as well as in developing the technical and business skills necessary for the next generation of South Dakotans and students educated in the state. This will enable them to build successful careers and launch or expand science- and technology-driven companies.
Governance: The implementation of this plan will require leadership and coordination from:
- The state government, through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
- The industry-led South Dakota EPSCoR REACH Committee

The vice presidents of research and research administrators from South Dakota’s six public universities and three tribal colleges

Subawards and Partner Activities

South Dakota currently has one active E-CORE award and two active E-RISE awards.

E-CORE Award
Title: Collaborative Research: E-CORE RII: South Dakota Research Ecosystem Network: Advancing STEM Education
Principal Investigator: Dr. Bentley Sayler

E-RISE Awards
Title: Collaborative Research: E-RISE RII: Germanium-based Science and Technology Advanced Research
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dongming Mei

Title: Collaborative Research: E-RISE RII: BioNitrogen Economy Research Center
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ruanbao Zhou