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Speaking to a group of about 175 business, political and education leaders in Indianapolis, former Georgia Gov. Zell Miller called higher education spending "an essential investment in the economic future of your state."
 Miller Former Georgia Gov. Zell Miller talked about the success of the Georgia Research Alliance, a partnership of six research universities with state government and private businesses. In the Hoosier state, the Indiana Health Industry Forum brings together higher education and private business to seek state funding to attract more federal research dollars. |
Miller should know. His efforts to encourage research partnerships between businesses and research universities and to promote wider access to higher education have been instrumental in making Georgia's high-tech economy one of the fastest growing in the nation.
"The future will belong to those who can put two things hand-in-hand--a skilled workforce and advanced research," said Miller, who served as governor for eight years.
Miller's visit to Indianapolis was arranged by the Trustees of Indiana and Purdue universities to promote the Indiana Health Industry Forum's medical research initiative. The forum brings together higher education and private businesses to seek state funding to attract more federal research dollars to Indiana.
Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who introduced Miller at the luncheon, has announced his support of the 21st Century Growth Fund, which would allocate $50 million over the next two years for biomedical and other research. Those investments could help leverage more federal grants, particularly from the National Institutes of Health, whose budget has sharply increased in recent years.
The 21st Century Growth Fund is awaiting legislative approval.
Miller described the success of the Georgia Research Alliance, a partnership of that state's six research universities with state government and private businesses. The alliance has raised more than $800 million through state, federal and private sources, and used the money to build laboratories and attract eminent scholars. That investment is drawing existing businesses to the state and encouraging the development of new companies, Miller said.
Georgia's economy is now creating 2,000 jobs a week, many in high paying, high-tech fields.
"Successful states must focus energies and resources on research universities, such as IU and Purdue," Miller said. "They are your crown jewels. Nurture them and treasure them."
Miller is also the originator of HOPE Scholarships, which pay tuition and fees at Georgia's public colleges and universities (or a grant to be used at a private college) to any Georgia student who maintains a B average. As a result, Miller said, more of Georgia's best students are attending college in their home state.
Miller said the program "assures high-end industry that it will have the educated workforce that it needs."
Georgia's educational initiatives, which also include pre-school and K-12 programs, have been financed largely by revenues from a state lottery, for which Miller won legislative approval early in his first term as governor.
Read about the Georgia Research Alliance at this Web site:
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