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Boudjouk, Burgum Win Inaugural Award

2008-10-21 23:30:00
Author: BizWire

Fargo, ND - During the Red River Valley Research Conference: Milestones & Horizons held on Monday, U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) honored two of the region’s most innovative high-tech leaders for their contributions to the Research Corridor.

Area software innovator Doug Burgum was presented with the “Pathfinder Award” for his “exceptional achievement in developing and deploying breakthrough technologies, products, processes or services in the marketplace that have a significant effect on the way business and society operate.”

Burgum joined Fargo’s Great Plains Software in 1983 and successfully led the company for many years through a period of remarkable growth. It went public in 1997 and was purchased by Microsoft Corp. in 2001 for $1.1 billion. Burgum is now involved with Arthur Ventures, a technology venture fund, and the Kilbourne Group, which aims to restore historic structures in Downtown Fargo.

North Dakota State University’s Dr. Philip Boudjouk was presented with the “Discovery Award” for his “outstanding leadership and service in building and raising the visibility of the region’s research enterprise and for groundbreaking scientific and applied research that has a regional, national or global impact.”

Boudjouk is currently NDSU’s Vice President for Research, Creative Activities and Technology Transfer. He is the first person to ever hold that position. Boudjouk has been an active educator and researcher since 1973. A few of his accomplishments include raising NDSU’s research and development investments from $44 million to $106 million and helping to expand the university’s Research and Technology Park. Dorgan has worked closely with Boudjouk in directing federal research dollars to NDSU.

“Doug and Phil have shown dedication and vision in building a high-tech future in our state,” Dorgan said. “Their efforts have created new cutting-edge industries and good-paying jobs right here in North Dakota. I was proud to present these awards on Monday night. It was the capstone to a conference celebrating the many accomplishments in the Red River Valley Research Corridor over the last six years.”

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