MSU Earns National Recognition for Innovation and Economic Development

June 24, 2015

Mississippi State, home to the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park, the state's largest research park and a research- and innovation-based economic development hub, joins 18 other leading universities receiving the 2015 Innovation and Economic Prosperity University designation.

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and its Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity (CICEP) recognized Mississippi State as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) University. The uiniversity, one of only two Southeastern Conference institutions to earn the award, has had a number of high-profile, economic and development success stories, including Nissan, Toyota, Yokohama Tire, American Eurocopter, PACCAR, GE-Aviation, Stark Aerospace and Aurora Flight Sciences.

After an intensive review process, the APLU identified MSU and other IEP institutions for "working to advance the engagement and economic well-being of their states, regions, and the nation."

"Public universities serve as economic engines for their local communities and states by conducting cutting edge research to reach new breakthroughs, and by developing the talent to help existing businesses grow stronger and enabling new ones to develop and thrive," APLU President Peter McPherson said.