DUBLIN, Ireland — Representatives from the Desert Research Institute (DRI) joined Governor Brian Sandoval today on a European trade mission that began in Ireland.
A goal of the mission is a partnership with Ireland IBM that brings attention to Nevada’s water technology and commercialization.
From Reno, DRI’s Vice President and Chief Science Officer Alan Gertler was joined by DRI’s Las Vegas personnel, including Nathan Allen, executive director of the Nevada Center of Excellence, Kumud Acharya, hydrologist and limnologist and Patricia Mulroy, DRI’s Maki Distinguished Faculty Associate.
“This is both a significant and exciting step for the Nevada Center of Excellence in Water and DRI,” said DRI President Stephen Wells. “Our knowledge base in water at the universities and at DRI is unparalleled.
“When you blend that with the knowledge and capacity of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), the reach of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and IBM’s new water technologies you now have something that will advance our state’s innovation-based economy, attract new businesses and allow us to share our knowledge of water with partners across the world.”
Sandoval said Nevada’s arid and semi-arid climates bring an added advantage to the state’s water technologies.
“As a desert state, our focus on water security has driven research institutions and agencies such as DRI and SNWA to develop industry-leading knowledge on the study of water and has led to the development of several technologies that increase our access to water,” he said. “This new partnership with Ireland IBM will not only strengthen the work our state is doing regarding water, but also will help turn this emerging industry into economic opportunity for the state through technology commercialization.”
Sandoval is also seeking to open Irish business access to the U.S. through Nevada.
