Welcome to Our New AURP Members! | | "One Text With . . . " Blue Rise Ventures' Mark Romney | | |
For this week’s “One Text With…” we’re excited to feature Mark Romney, Senior Vice President and Partner at Blue Rise Ventures — an innovation district real estate developer with primary focuses on innovation districts. and joint venture partner with Fulcrum Property on the Capitol Innovation District, the Sacramento region’s first advanced biomanufacturing innovation district. CID is intricately linked with its sister project, BioSpace at the Bridge District, creating a unique dual-campus ecosystem in West Sacramento. | | |
Vickie: Hi Mark — what new projects at Blue Rise have you most energized right now?
Mark: Thanks, Vickie! While we have a lot going on right now, I would have to say that our West Sacramento projects — Capitol Innovation District and BioSpace — are truly defining a new model for regionally integrated innovation districts. The Capitol Innovation District is a 1M SF purpose-built advanced biomanufacturing campus where the current primary ecosystems evolving are in the areas of sustainable agriculture (food and ingredients), multimodal biologics, energy tech, and climate tech, spanning pilot scale to commercial scale manufacturing.
Just down the street, BioSpace at the Bridge District, the sibling project to CID, spans 1.4M SF and supports early to mid-stage companies in ag-tech, synthetic biology, therapeutics and AI-driven scalability. Together, they offer rare visibility across the full innovation-to-manufacturing pipeline — especially in California.
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Vickie: Very cool! Anything coming up we should keep an eye on?
Mark: Well one that is near and dear to my heart, and one I think is really going to make an impact in our area of work. We are helping launch the California Innovation Corridor — connecting research parks, incubators and innovation districts from Silicon Valley to Modesto. The first phase includes sites we operate — like BioSquare in San Jose, the Research Park Marina Village in Alameda, University Research Park in Davis, our Capitol Innovation District and BioSpace projects in West Sacramento, and others like Transwestern’s Axiom Point and Dipesh Lad’s Life Space Labs in Vacaville, Wexford’s Aggie Square at UC Davis in Sacramento, and Beam Circular in Modesto.
The goal is to align resources, reduce relocation friction and create a collaborative, non-competitive ecosystem that supports companies from startup to scale.
Plenty more ahead — but those are the big ones for now!
Vickie: Thank you Mark! Keep us in the loop on all this terrific activity.
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REGISTER NOW
I2RP at Cummings Research Park in Huntsville
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#AURPinAction: Get ready to launch with us in Huntsville, AL (the "Rocket City") for our Fall 2025 Insights Into Research Parks (I2RP) hosted by Cummings Research Park (CRP), Sept. 22-24!
CRP is the second largest research park in the U.S. and the fourth largest in the world. It is one of the world's leading science and technology parks, with a mixture of F500 companies, local and international high-tech enterprises, plus space and defense agencies, thriving business incubators and competitive higher-education institutions.
With over 320 companies, CRP hosts more than 26,000 employees and 13,500 students.
Register NOW!
Book your flights and hotel room!). Learn more!
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Sign-Up for the Redstone Arsenal Tour BEFORE AUGUST 22nd!
A federal R&D center of excellence with more than 65 federal tenants across 30,000 acres that advances research, development, testing and engineering that put the US at the forefront of solutions to address national and global challenges and opportunities through its largest tenants the U.S. Army, the FBI and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center among them.
*REQUIRED: Attendees who are U.S. Citizens MUST bring their valid REAL ID/Driver's License and provide their name, DL Number and State that it was issued. Attendees who are Foreign Nationals must provide name as it appears on their passport, passport number and country that it was issued BEFORE AUGUST 22ND.
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Stay in the Loop! Catch up with Past Community Pulse Sessions
AURP Members! Our Community Pulse webinar series is a hit – and the buzz keeps growing!
Missed a session? Or want to rewatch your favorites? No problem.
All past Community Pulse webinars are available on demand. Just log in to the Member Portal on our website and click the "Community Pulse Webinar Recordings" link to catch up anytime!
View at right: The Beach at UNO and UCLA Research Park
| | | Resources & Announcements | | |
AURP's Vickie Palmer Co-Authors Column in Site Selection Magazine on "A New Future for Higher Ed"
Vickie Palmer, AURP CEO, has co-authored a column published in Site Selection magazine's July issue on "A New Future for Higher Ed: Through partnerships, schools can be the engine for research, innovation, and workforce development." Vickie's co-authors are Priya Baboo and Tim Hausman, Past Presidents of the Network of Academic Corporate Relations Officers (NACRO).
"For corporations considering new regions to expand operations and drive business growth over the long-term, now is the time to consider partnering with universities and their research parks and innovation districts. It’s a proven model for success," the authors write. Read more.
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AURP Members: Don't Miss Weekly Updates
Van Scoyoc Associates – Washington
AURP Members: Be sure to check out the Van Scoyoc Associates – Washington Update, a comprehensive digest report of key Washington, DC policy, budget and legislative updates available weekly in the Members’ Only section of the AURP website.
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NSF Selects 29 Semifinalists in 2nd NSF Regional Innovation Engines Competition
The U.S. National Science Foundation has named 29 semifinalists in its second Regional Innovation Engines competition, advancing teams that aim to build dynamic, place-based innovation ecosystems across the country, according to SSTI. Of the selected teams, 25 are led by universities or affiliates, and 17 previously received NSF Engines Development Awards to support coalition-building and strategic planning. Many semifinalists also overlap with other federal innovation initiatives, such as EDA Tech Hubs and Building Better Regions awards. NSF will conduct virtual assessments of the semifinalists in August, with final awards expected to be announced in early 2026. Read more.
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University Leaders Propose New
Research Funding Model
A coalition of ten major research advocacy organizations has unveiled the Fiscal Accountability in Research (FAIR) model, a proposed overhaul of how the federal government reimburses universities for indirect research costs, according to Inside Higher Ed. The FAIR model aims to increase transparency and efficiency by replacing the complex, decades-old system with a clearer framework that categorizes costs into direct research performance, essential support, and general operations. Developed in response to federal efforts to cap indirect cost reimbursements, the model has drawn support from academic leaders and is intended to preserve U.S. leadership in science and innovation while ensuring accountability to taxpayers. Read more.
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| RFP – Innovation Saskatchewan | | Innovation Saskatchewan has issued a RFP to develop 25-year Master Plans for its Research and Technology (R+T) Parks in Regina and Saskatoon. The initiative aims to expand innovation capacity, modernize infrastructure, and strengthen collaboration among tech companies, researchers, and academic institutions. Each park will receive a tailored plan aligned with strategic sectors such as agriculture, life sciences, energy, and ICT. With over 150 tenant companies and 3,700 employees across 26 buildings, the R+T Parks are positioned to evolve into globally competitive hubs for research and commercialization. Proposal submissions are due by August 19, 2025. Learn more. | | #AURP Member & Industry News | | The University of Virginia Foundation has appointed Rebecca Ivins as its new research parks director, effective July 1, 2025. Ivins brings a strong background in economic development, civic engagement and strategic partnerships, having held leadership roles at firms like Hourigan, Gilbane, and Jones Lang LaSalle. In her new role, she will guide the growth of UVA’s research parks — particularly North Fork — by attracting innovative companies, expanding career opportunities, and fostering collaboration between the university, industry, and the community. Her appointment comes as UVA intensifies efforts to position its parks as regional hubs for talent and transformative innovation. Read more. | | | Biogen has announced a $2 billion investment to expand its manufacturing operations in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, marking its 30th anniversary at the site. The funding will support the development of advanced capabilities — including antisense oligonucleotide infrastructure, multi-platform fill-finish facilities, and cutting-edge automation and AI technologies — to bolster Biogen’s late-stage clinical pipeline and ensure resilient patient supply. With over $10 billion already invested in the region, this move reinforces Biogen’s role as North Carolina’s largest biotechnology employer and highlights its commitment to innovation and workforce development. Read more. | | | Despite economic uncertainty, federal funding challenges and shifting market dynamics, the science and tech park sector continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability, according to Expansion Solutions magazine. Leaders in the field, including Carol Stewart of Tech Parks Arizona and AURP's Brian Darmody, emphasize the sector’s enduring strength, driven by long-standing university partnerships, demand for innovation and the growth of knowledge-based companies. A recent global survey highlights widespread support for startups through incubators and accelerators, while experts note increasing interest in innovation districts and flexible development models. Though headwinds persist, the sector remains optimistic about its role in fostering dynamic ecosystems for research, commercialization, and regional growth. Read more. | | | Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has announced plans to build its largest-ever drug manufacturing facility in Virginia, marking a record-breaking investment as part of its $50 billion U.S. expansion by 2030. The company has not yet publicly disclosed the exact location of the future plant or a construction timeline. The new site will focus on producing treatments for cancer, respiratory illnesses, and rare diseases, and will leverage cutting-edge technologies like AI and automation to optimize production1. Expected to create hundreds of highly skilled jobs, the facility underscores Virginia’s growing prominence in life sciences and advanced manufacturing. Read more. | | | Dr. Colleen Fitzgerald will become Hofstra University’s first senior vice provost for research and creative activities, effective this September. Dr. Fitzgerald currently serves as vice president for research and creative activity at North Dakota State University, where she leads research development and technology transfer, and executes the strategy to advance research and innovation enterprises. Her prior appointments include associate vice president for research at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and a four-year term as program officer at the National Science Foundation. "I'm looking forward to having an impact at Hofstra University by supporting and elevating research and creative endeavors," writes Dr. Fitzgerald in a LinkedIn post. Read more. | | | Georgia Governor Brian Kemp earlier this month announced that Shriners Children’s will establish a cutting-edge pediatric medical research institute at Science Square in Atlanta, investing over $153 million and creating 470 new jobs. The facility will focus on advanced research in areas such as robotics, AI, gene therapies and medical devices, in collaboration with Georgia Tech and Emory University. This move strengthens Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem and positions Atlanta as a global hub for pediatric innovation and healthcare advancement. Read more. | | | The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has praised the U.S. Department of Defense’s sweeping new measures to accelerate drone acquisition and innovation, calling them a major win for warfighters, taxpayers and the domestic drone industry. Prompted by Executive Order 14307, the DoD’s updated guidance empowers frontline commanders to procure and operate Group 1 and 2 drones, streamlines outdated procurement policies, and introduces incentives like advance purchase commitments and direct loans to boost U.S. production. AUVSI emphasized that these reforms reflect long-standing policy recommendations and mark a decisive shift toward agile, mission-driven drone deployment. Read more. | | | Tembo, a fast-growing startup based at the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub, has unveiled a pioneering AI agent designed to act as a software engineering teammate. The tool proactively monitors tech stacks, generates quality pull requests, fixes bugs and optimizes databases — freeing developers to focus on creative, high-impact work, according to Sylvie O'Connor, Tembo's head of customer success. Originally launched as a Postgres developer platform, Tembo’s latest upgrade closes the loop on AI-assisted coding by executing tasks end-to-end within source control systems. The company’s breakthrough positions it at the forefront of Cincinnati’s innovation ecosystem. Read more. | | | 2025 – Connect & Achieve with AURP | | | | |
AURP’s 2025 calendar is brimming with insightful content and exciting opportunities to connect with your innovation community!
Get ready for a year of growth, collaboration and groundbreaking achievements.
Mark your calendar and prepare to unlock new potential, elevate your impact and drive success like never before!
Learn more.
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AURP MEMBER MAP
Land your pin on our community of innovation heat map!
Check out the AURP interactive map to connect with institutional members throughout the globe. AURP members are the foundation of our association and represent a range of innovation districts, parks, and research organizations!
Learn more.
#buildingtheAURPnetwork
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Economic Impact Reports | |
Research parks, innovation districts and tech hubs are strong economic, job-creating engines and contribute to economic development in local communities, regions, states and nations.
Our AURP website features current impact studies that illustrate the dynamic impact of university research parks, innovation districts and tech hubs.
Check out Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's 2024 Economic Impact Report!
Share your impact report on our website! Learn more.
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AURP CAREER CENTER
Check out the AURP Career Center to discover your
next career opportunity, including:
- Associate Vice President, Real Estate Services – The University of Pennsylvania
- Director of the Physical Science Laboratory – New Mexico State University
- Executive Director of Research Development – University of Minnesota in Twin Cities
- Executive Director – TEX-E (Houston, TX)
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SUBMIT YOUR STORY FOR A FUTURE PARK POST!
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Would you like to showcase your Community of Innovation, tenant or university activities (including newly released Impact Reports) in an upcoming AURP Park Post? We want to hear your stories and news to share with our greater AURP community. Email us today!
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