This bill establishes a new section in chapter 54-17 of the North Dakota Century Code to create a research technology park grant program administered by the industrial commission. The program is designed to provide funding to the research technology park at North Dakota State University, which will focus on exploratory, transformational, and innovative research related to intelligent autonomous mobile equipment. The park will engage in activities that promote the development of autonomous agriculture resources, access to advanced robotics and artificial intelligence, and education related to advanced technology resources. The research technology park is required to develop a biennial plan for fund usage, which must be approved by the industrial commission.

Additionally, the bill appropriates $10,000,000 from the strategic investment and improvements fund for the grant program for the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. Of this amount, $5,000,000 will be granted to the research technology park without a matching requirement, while the remaining $5,000,000 will be contingent upon the park providing matching funds from nonstate sources. The research technology park is also mandated to report annually on its activities and accomplishments to the industrial commission and the legislative management, with additional reporting to appropriations committees upon request.