Gov. Dayton, Sen. Klobuchar, Rep. Walz help greet Chinese leaders behind partnership

AUSTIN, Minn. — Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 — Leaders from The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota-Mayo Clinic, and China’s Henan Province announced a major partnership development today that will accelerate discoveries aimed for improving health worldwide.

Executive Director Dr. Zigang Dong of The Hormel Institute joined The Honorable Tie Wang, Vice Governor of Henan Province – one of China’s largest provinces – in presenting details this morning about their new international partnership to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz and many other state and local leaders.

As plans for its next major expansion in Austin continue to progress, The Hormel Institute developed a new partnership with Henan officials that will greatly support the Institute’s continuing growth. This development aims to accelerate medical research progress for both countries and benefit Minnesota economically.

“We are excited by our new partnership with the Henan Province and for the cutting-edge, medical research discoveries that will come from it,” Executive Director Dr. Zigang Dong said. “By working together with our many collaborators around the world, The Hormel Institute will continue to make progress in the fight against cancer and the effort to improve health worldwide.”

Prior to the presentation, Gov. Dayton toured The Hormel Institute’s state-of-the-art facility and viewed the site for the Institute’s major expansion slated to begin late this year or early 2013. The governor included The Hormel Institute’s expansion as one of three projects he highlighted when unveiling his proposed state bonding bill in January. Bipartisan support at the Legislature led to the approval of $13.5 million in bonding for the City of Austin’s Port Authority to use for the Institute’s 2013 expansion.

In 2013, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota-Mayo Clinic, in Austin will be doubling in size through the construction of 20 state-of-the-art laboratories and space for an additional 120 scientific research jobs. With a 2006-2008 major expansion project, The Hormel Institute tripled its research lab space and developed an International Center for Research Technology that today includes two IBM supercomputers among other cutting-edge technology.

With one of the top scientific publishing records, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota – Mayo Clinic, is a world-renowned cancer research center conducting research aimed at discoveries leading to the prevention and control of cancer. The BioScience Triangle growing the collaborative partnership between the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Mayo Clinic-Rochester and The Hormel Institute-Austin is continuing to expand.