N.D. Cent. Code § 4.1-01-20.1

4.1-01-20.1. Bioscience innovation grant program - Continuing appropriation

1. The commissioner shall collaborate with a local association having bioscience

experience to develop and administer a bioscience innovation grant program through

the bioscience innovation grant fund. The commissioner shall collaborate with the

department of commerce when awarding bioscience innovation grants to coordinate

the management of the commissioner's bioscience innovation grant program and the

department of commerce's biotechnology grant program.

2. The commissioner shall collaborate with the committee established under subsection 5

to adopt rules and criteria necessary to administer the bioscience innovation grant

program. The rules must include criteria for program eligibility, including requiring a

bioscience business that receives funding through the program match up to

fifty percent of the amount of the grant received.

3. The bioscience innovation grant fund is a special fund created in the state treasury.

Moneys in the fund are appropriated on a continuing basis to the commissioner to

award grants to:

a. Support biotechnology innovation and commercialization in areas including crop

genetics, biofuels, biomaterials, biosensors, and biotechnology in relation to food,

nutrition, animals, humans, equipment, medical and health products and services,

medical diagnostics, medical therapeutics, and farm-based pharmaceuticals;

b. Promote the creation of bioscience jobs in the state to be filled by graduates from

institutions under the control of the state board of higher education;

c. Encourage the development of new bioscience technologies and bioscience

startup companies in the state;

d. Leverage the agriculture industry in the state to support the development of

bioscience technologies impacting livestock operations and crop production;

e. Promote bioscience research and development at institutions under the control of

the state board of higher education; and

f. Encourage coordination and collaboration among other entities and programs in

the state to promote bioscience innovation goals.

4. A bioscience business operating in the state is eligible to receive a grant under the

program if the business:

a. Employs at least two employees;

b. Has documented annual sales of less than two million five hundred thousand

dollars; and

c. Is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, or

limited liability partnership registered in the state.

5. The bioscience innovation program shall award grant funding through a committee

consisting of:

a. One representative from the department of agriculture appointed by the

agriculture commissioner;

b. One representative from the bioscience association of North Dakota appointed by

the board of the bioscience association of North Dakota; and

c. One representative from the department of commerce appointed by the

commissioner of the department of commerce.

6. Grant funds awarded under this section may not be used for capital improvements,

academic programming or curriculum, or workforce training.