Research Parks: Americas Competitive Edge

1
Research Parks Americas Competitive Edge
2
Association of University Research ParksWho Are
We?

• Research Universities and their Research and
  Science Parks
• National Laboratories
• Local, State, and National Economic Development
  Organizations
• Industry Experts and Consultants

3
Association of University Research ParksWhat Do
We Do?

• Promote the Development and Operations of
  Research Parks, that
• Foster Innovation, Commercialization, and
  Economic Competitiveness in a Global Economy,
  through
• Collaboration Among Universities, Industry, and
  Government

4
University Research and Science ParksEconomic
Impact Across North America

• Over 4,450 Companies and Organizations
• Range from 3 to 240
• Average of 28 per Park
• Over 350,000 Full-Time Employees in Research
  Parks
• Range from 4 to 38,000
• Over 25,000 Students/Interns also work in Parks
• Total Economic Impact of Over 31 Billion

5
Current Trends

• Research Parks Continue as the Gold Standard of
  Technology-led Economic Development
• Parks Lead the Emerging Focus on Innovation as
  the Means to Economic Competitiveness
• Biotechnology and Information Technology are
  Dominant Companies/Technologies in Parks
• Global and Regional Partnerships and Recruitment
  Emphasized

6
Research Parks Face Challenges

• Equity Funding for Technology Commercialization
• Public Funding for Infrastructure Improvements
• Roads, Utilities
• Equity or Debt Financing for Buildings
• Wet Laboratories, Clean Room Facilities

7
Enhancing Americas Competitiveness through
Support for Research Parks

• Americas Competitiveness Initiatives now in
  Congress
• Economic Development Administration (EDA)