The Minnesota House Bio-science and Emerging Technology Committee and Senate Business Industry and Jobs Committee visited MinnWest Technology Campus on November 9, 2007.

The event was jointly hosted by MinnWest Technology Campus and the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission (EDC).  Steve Renquist, EDC Executive Director, welcomed the committees with opening remarks.  Steven Salzer, MinnWest General Manager, provided a one hour tour of the campus.  The House and Senate Committees were able to see campus amenities available to campus employees, an existing campus building waiting for renovations, Nova-Tech Engineering facilities, Multi-Tech incubator and support company building, and cafeteria.

A working lunch provided the House and Senate Committees with presentations provided by Epitopix, Syntiron and Nova-Tech Engineering.  Epitopix and sister company Syntiron utilize patented applications in animal and human vaccine research, development, and production.  Building renovations are in progress for Epitopix as they prepare for their move to the MinnWest Technology Campus in the fall of 2008. Dr. Bill Sheehan gave a brief presentation on traumatic brain injury research and some of the cutting edge technology used in this research.

Many questions were asked and answers given.  The vision for the MinnWest Technology Campus was shared with the committees.  Other topics discussed were funding appropriations for access to bio-science programs and grants, assistance in regulation changes, funding for small bio-science companies, and support from the Minnesota House and Senate in any ways possible.