‘The cyber state’ takes shape with first-of-its-kind research center
Think of the newly opened Madison Cyber Labs at Dakota State University as a big magnet.
“It’s going to attract people to come to work, new faculty who will be able to conduct research with federal agencies they can’t do on other campuses,” DSU president José-Marie Griffiths said. “And we think it will attract partnerships. We know it’s already attracting partnerships.”
The 38,000-square-foot building that opened in recent weeks already is fulfilling much of its promise.
As students move in, collaboration already is starting, those using the building said.
That was the idea when Griffiths proposed the concept to her campus and to the South Dakota Board of Regents just a few short years ago.
“We couldn’t have one lab per faculty member pursuing their individual research agendas. They had to be broader and involve others across campus and potentially involve external partners,” she said.
“The intent is not just research for the sake of research. It’s researching real problems, developing real solutions, but at the same time creating jobs for people who engage in that R&D and spin off companies that take that R&D and put it out into the real world.”