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I want to conclude by talking about our critical role in improving the economic growth, health and quality of life in our region. Stony Brook is absolutely vital to Long Island’s economic future. Innovation economies depend on research universities. Every successful economic ecosystem, Silicon Valley, Route 128, the Research Triangle, has had a research university (or more than one research university) as its anchor. Stony Brook is already incubating more than 44 start-up companies, but we are poised to do much more. The new Start-Up NY program turns the Stony Brook University campuses, most importantly, the Research and Development Park, into tax free zones, where selected industries can locate and establish research or manufacturing enterprises without any State or local tax liability, (including corporate, property and personal income taxes). This program is designed to attract companies from out of state and to help start- up companies thrive in New York. The potential benefits to Stony Brook University and the Long Island region are enormous. Students will benefit from new internship, research and career opportunities, faculty from new research space and new collaborations, and the region from an influx of high technology jobs. This will be a game changer, and we are working at full speed to get Stony Brook’s program underway.
 
Few things are more vital to any region than the health of its citizens. Under the direction of Ken Kaushansky, Senior Vice President for the Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine, we have made remarkable strides in improving our medical research, education and clinical care. Stony Brook Medicine is an academic enterprise that is committed to being best in class, competing with its AAMC peers in New York City and beyond. And the beneficiaries of our aspiration to be the best are the citizens of this region, who can continue to expect better and better medical care, with the opportunities for innovative therapeutic and diagnostic approaches that only an academic medical center can bring. Our investments in new technology, including one of the first PET/MRI scanners in the country, will continue to drive our research and clinical-care agenda forward, to the benefit of all.  

In addition to being an engine for economic development, and playing a vital role in delivering superb health care to Long Island, Stony Brook University is also a destination for the fine arts and entertainment on Long Island. The Staller Center, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has become a regional treasure, providing our campus and the surrounding area with amazing local, national and international talent—programs that educate and entertain. Anchored by our extraordinary Emerson String Quartet, this year promises to be the best ever, and is a testament to Alan Inkles' creativity and leadership. The Wang Center remains a destination for students, faculty and the community, celebrating Asian and Asian-American culture, with exciting new programming anticipated for this year. Finally, our athletics teams represent not only Stony Brook University, but this region, attracting students, faculty, staff and members of the community to LaValle Stadium, Joe Nathan Field and, very soon, the newly renovated Stony Brook University Arena, a striking venue that will become the home court of our outstanding men’s and women’s basketball teams. I can’t wait.

So, in conclusion, the State of the University in 2013, my fifth year at Stony Brook, is strong. Like other public research universities, we face many challenges. But during the past two years we have had great support from the Governor and the Legislature, from many friends of the University, and we have made significant progress. There are many uncertainties, external forces that we cannot control, but today we face them with renewed vigor, confident in our resilience, and in the rightness of what we do for our students and society.

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