December 9, 2008
Purdue Research Park official elected president of international research parks organization
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
The election took place prior to the organization's annual conference, which will run Wednesday through Friday (Dec. 10-12) in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"I am deeply honored to lead the Association of University Research Parks, especially in these times of great change and great challenges," said Deason, who previously served as the organization's vice president and treasurer. "We recognize that universities, government and corporations will rely more than ever on university-based research parks for innovation through research discoveries and economic development through technology transfer."
Deason said the organization will focus on education and government in the coming year.
"Our key mission is to foster collaborations among universities, industry and government. AURP seeks to increase economic competitiveness through innovation and commercialization," he said. "AURP recently published policy recommendations for the new administration entitled 'The Power of Place' that outlines a federal strategy for high-technology economic development."
"The Power of Place" calls for American Innovation Zones, areas designated to encourage the use of combined resources of research parks, technology incubators, universities, federal laboratories and other similar facilities that support American competitiveness and economic development. "The Power of Place" was presented before the National Press Club in October and recommends regulatory reforms and economic incentives to accelerate the development of economic growth.
There are more than 400 research parks worldwide, and approximately 170 in North America. More than 300,000 people are employed in North American research parks, and each core job in a research park generates about 2.5 jobs in the respective communities, according to the 2007 Battelle report "Characteristics and Trends in North American Research Parks: 21st Century Directions." Metropolitan areas with research parks include Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Kansas City, Mo.; New York; Phoenix; San Diego; San Francisco; and Washington D.C.
Other officers in the AURP include past president J. Michael Bowman, Delaware Technology Park Inc.; first vice president Brian Darmody, University of Maryland College Park; second vice president Kevin Byrne, University Financing Foundation; Harold E. Strong Jr., Texas A&M University Research Park; and Greg Hyer, University of Wisconsin Research Park. Other board members include Jim Currie of the BioHio Research Park at Ohio State University, Michael J. Donovan of Boston University, Dale Gann of Vancouver Island Technology Park, Robert T. Geolas of Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, Scott Levitan of the Forest City New East Baltimore Partnership, Teresa W. McKnight of the South Dakota State University Growth Partnership, Jane Shaab of the UMB HealthSciences Research Park Corp. and Rick L. Weddle of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina.
The Association of University Research Parks was established in 1986 with a mission to promote the development and operations of research parks through collaboration among universities, industry and government. The organization's goal is to foster innovation and facilitate the transfer of research and technology from academe to the private sector. The association has more than 350 members.
As director of the Purdue Research Park, Deason has overall responsibilities for park programs and facilities as well as development activities related to a diverse portfolio of real estate. His activities include providing startup firms with an array of business coaching and infrastructural resources to nurture the companies' growth and development. He has contributed to establishing research parks in other parts of Indiana, including Merrillville, Indianapolis and New Albany.
About Purdue Research Park
The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (https://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 157 companies. About 100 of these firms are technology-related and another 39 are incubator businesses. The park is owned and managed by the Purdue Research Foundation. The park was ranked No. 1 in 2004 for university-affiliated research parks and received the 2005 Outstanding Commercialization Award, both from the Association of University Research Parks. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.
To the Purdue Research Park, https://www.purdueresearchpark.com
Purdue Research Park contact: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, casequin@prf.org
Source: Gregory Deason, (765) 494-8572, gwdeason@prf.org