Bill > HB1265

This bill establishes a state information technology research center and an advanced technology review committee to promote technological innovation in North Dakota. The research center will operate as a virtual collaborative center focused on data science, advanced technology solutions, and research projects in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. The center can enter contracts with higher education institutions, government agencies, and other organizations, and can accept donations and grants to support its work. An advanced technology review committee will be formed, consisting of members from the state's information technology department, university system, and private sector, who will review and approve grant applications from entrepreneurs and small businesses working on advanced technology product development. The bill creates a compute credits grant program to provide funding for technology startups, with priority given to proposals likely to attract additional technology businesses to the state. Grant recipients must use funds specifically for compute credits and processing capacity, and cannot use the funds for administrative costs or capital investments. The bill also establishes an advanced technology grant fund to support these initiatives, and requires post-award monitoring and independent review of funded projects to assess their impact on technological development, business investment, and workforce enhancement in North Dakota.