The University of Missouri-Rolla recently received one of three 2004 Missouri Impact! Awards from Missouri Enterprise Business Assistance Center for the campus’ efforts to help Missouri business succeed by developing new technologies, techniques and innovative processes.

This is the first time Missouri Enterprise has given the award to an educational institution since its creation in 1998. Other recipients of this year’s award include Precision Aero Services Inc. of Nevada, Mo., and Siegel-Robert Inc. of St. Louis, Farmington, Mo., and Portageville, Mo.

Willem Bakker, president and CEO of Missouri Enterprise, presented the award to UMR Chancellor Gary Thomas Dec. 9 during a ceremony on the UMR campus.

"The partnership between UMR and Missouri Enterprise brings together a major research university and a not-for-profit corporation to work toward the common cause of helping Missouri business succeed," says Thomas. "This partnership has been beneficial to both parties over the past 20 years, and we look forward to years and years of continued collaboration."

Missouri Enterprise provides business and technical assistance to Missouri companies and manages the state’s manufacturing extension partnership, an advanced manufacturing training program, a value-added agriculture program, one of the state’s innovation centers and the University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood.