UTPA receives more than $3 million from the state to advance rapid response manufacturing

EDINBURG — Maintaining a competitive edge is key in business.

That’s why the state is investing millions of dollars in the University of Texas-Pan American and two South Texas businesses. Officials hope the financial infusion will ensure the state remains able to compete for jobs on a global level and positions the Rio Grande Valley as a major contender in the technology fields.

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry visited the university to announce the awarding of $3.4 million to UTPA from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.

The money will be used to recruit researchers to establish and oversee a world-class advanced manufacturing center. The university and private investors are matching the state’s contribution, bringing the total investment to more than $9 million.

The governor said the investment in UTPA is intended to help accelerate the university’s efforts in developing rapid response manufacturing and help create high-tech jobs via private investment and entrepreneurship, which he called “the building blocks of our economy.”

UTPA already has a Rapid Response Manufacturing Center. The facility is geared toward providing research, design and production expertise to enable existing manufacturers and businesses as well as budding entrepreneurs to scale production from a concept to finished goods as rapidly and efficiently as possible.

“This investment is going to be the tipping point, accelerating the important work that this facility does, putting the Valley and our state on the radar of even more employers around the world who are looking for a place with the resources of which to help them succeed,” Perry said.

The university is in the process of recruiting two researchers for its Rapid Response Manufacturing Center who will oversee the center and work with students and area companies to develop technology that will help corporations improve operation and productivity, according to the university.

“It allows us to become the lynchpin … by attracting and developing expertise,” said Wendy Lawrence-Fowler, the university’s vice provost for research and sponsored projects.

Money from the state tech fund is also going to two South Texas businesses.

Houston-based ScanTech Sciences, which is developing a food sterilization process through electronic pasteurization, was awarded $2 million. Another $1 million is going to Brownsville-based Photon8 Inc., which is working on producing bio-fuel from algae. The grants are to help with the development and commercialization of their research.

Photon8 moved its offices from New Jersey to the University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College’s campus last year and is working with the university to develop bio-fuel technology. The company already received $250,000 of its grant, said Brad W. Bartilson, Photon8’s president and chief executive officer.

ScanTech is in the process of establishing an assembly plant in the Valley.

The state Legislature created the Texas Emerging Technology Fund in 2005 and reauthorized it in 2007 and 2009, with $203.5 million allocated for the 2010-11 biennium. The program has awarded more than $126 million to 98 early-stage companies and $153 million in matching grant awards and “research superiority” awards to Texas universities, according to the governor’s office.

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Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.