South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Biotech Assn. and select Brookings, S.D., firms will provide attendees of the upcoming 2014 BIO Livestock Biotech Summit the opportunity to tour the campus and select facilities Sept. 15 at no cost.

Capping the evening will be an industry-led panel discussion featuring South Dakota State faculty members and industry collaborators on how to build successful, university/company collaborations.

South Dakota State was recently designated an Innovation & Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities (APLU) and its Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness & Economic Prosperity, according to an announcement from the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The university was chosen as a result of its work with public and private sector partners in the state and region to support economic development through a variety of activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development and community development.

"The research facilities we have at (South Dakota State), the Research Park at South Dakota State and in the community of Brookings create opportunities for students, faculty and industry leaders to solve the complex problems of today," South Dakota State vice president for research and economic development Kevin Kephart said. "We welcome the opportunity to showcase these facilities and interact with the summit's attendees."

The BIO Livestock Biotech Summit will feature programming highlighting the latest advances in livestock biotechnology, addressing societal concerns surrounding the care and use of agricultural animals in both biomedical applications and food production and exploring the value of intellectual property to animal biotechnology.

BIO will be hosting Dr. James Murray, professor of animal science and population health at the University of California-Davis, and Dr. Richard Raymond, former undersecretary of agriculture for food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as this year's keynote speakers.

The 2014 Livestock Biotech Summit will be held Sept. 16-19, in Sioux Falls, S.D., at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

“Tours of South Dakota State and Brookings-area facilities are a great way to set into motion the 2014 BIO Livestock Biotech Summit,” said Cathy Enright, BIO executive vice president of food and agriculture. “BIO encourages its attendees to take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit South Dakota's top animal research facilities as a wonderful precursor to the robust programming to take place at this year's Summit.”

Those interested in learning more about the tours and to RSVP, please contact William Aylor from South Dakota State University at [email protected].

Visit BIO's Livestock Biotech Summit website for program updates and news on summit registration, events and speakers.