Community Pulse Webinar Series

Whether you're in research, industry or higher education, this session will offer insider perspectives on building successful R&D alliances that shape the future of technology and innovation.



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🚨 AURP IC2025

25 days until this year's annual networking program!

This is the moment where ideas collide, partnerships ignite, and you might just find the collaboration that shifts your trajectory.

The AURP 2025 International Conference lands at UNLV and the Harry Reid Research & Technology Park — your chance to connect with global leaders in university research parks and innovation districts.

CONFERENCE RELOCATION

ALL AURP CONFERENCE SESSIONS

TO BE HELD AT:

DURANGO HOTEL

6915 S Durango Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89113

Complimentary parking is available plus several restaurant and entertainment settings.

This decision was made with the primary goal of enhancing the attendee experience.

By hosting the conference at the Durango Hotel, we will eliminate any need for shuttle transportation, offering a more convenient and seamless experience for all participants.

🔗 REGISTER TODAY

⏳ TICK TOCK!

🔗 Register Now to join the

global conversation shaping the future of innovation.

Hear from Len Jessup, Managing Director, Desert Forge Ventures, on attending his panel session (Nov. 13, 2:15pm PST) on the "The Bioscience Collaborative – An Innovative Approach to Building Biotech" with Ray Liu, CEO & Co-Founder, Vena Vitals and Jeffery Talbot, Vice President for Research, Roseman University of Health Sciences. Watch video.

Resources & Announcements

Nevada Doubles R&D Economic Output Over Past Decade, Outpacing Most States

Nevada (home state of AURP's 2025 International Conference, Nov. 11-14, in Las Vegas) is among just four states — with Washington, Oklahoma and Nebraska — where real R&D value added surged by over 100% during the past ten years, according to a new report from SSTI. This metric, which reflects the net economic contribution of R&D activity after subtracting production costs, offers a more nuanced view than traditional R&D intensity figures.

The growth signals Nevada’s expanding innovation footprint and may inform future tech-based economic development strategies. While national R&D value added rose across all states in nominal terms, inflation-adjusted gains were more uneven, with five states seeing declines. Nevada’s performance positions it as a rising player in the innovation economy, though further analysis is needed to assess the role of manufacturing R&D within its broader growth. Read more.

Register for our International Conference (hosted by UNLV).

Clark County, Nevada Is

The Bright Location for Business

In Clark County, NV, you get more than you ever imagined and you can get to the future you want faster. When you add it all up, it is clear that there is no brighter location for business than right here.

Look closer, and you’ll see that Clark County is Bright Beyond The Lights. Learn more.

Promotion.

AURP Members

Weekly Updates

House Small Business and Science Committee React to

Lapse of SBIR/STTR Programs

With the SBIR and STTR programs having lapsed September 30, bipartisan leaders from the U.S. House Small Business and Science Committees expressed disappointment over the Senate’s failure to pass a temporary extension. These programs have supported small business innovation and national defense for over four decades. The House had approved a one-year extension to maintain momentum while working toward long-term reauthorization. Lawmakers warned that a lapse could delay research, hinder innovation, and weaken America’s global competitiveness, urging the Senate to act swiftly to preserve continuity. Read more.

AURP Honors SSTI's Dan Berglund on His Retirement

With gratitude and admiration, we celebrate Dan Berglund as he reflects on his remarkable three decades of leadership and the passing of the baton to Mark Skinner as SSTI’s new President and CEO on October 14. AURP honors Dan’s extraordinary contributions, SSTI’s 2019 AURP Appreciation Award, and his 2024 AURP Career Achievement Award. His partnership has strengthened our community and the innovation ecosystem. Read more at Dan's new Substack page.

AURP and Stiletto Release 2025 Economic Impact Report:

The Power of North American Research Parks

AURP, in partnership with Stiletto: Make a Point, has unveiled its 2025 Economic Impact Report — a must-read for anyone invested in the future of innovation.

This powerful report reveals how research parks, innovation districts, tech hubs, and other communities of innovation are not just supporting progress — they’re powering workforce solutions, accelerating research commercialization, and fueling regional and national economic growth.

The results are clear: these communities deliver an extraordinary return on investment and are driving measurable impact across North America.

📢 Don’t miss the insights shaping the future of innovation.

➡️ Read our press release!

Higher Ed Plays Key Role in H-1B Visa Workforce

A recent Inside Higher Ed analysis of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data shows that higher ed institutions filed over 30,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2022, primarily for roles in research, instruction and healthcare. Unlike private companies, colleges and universities are exempt from the annual H-1B visa cap, allowing them to hire international talent year-round. The data also highlight that many H-1B recipients earned their degrees at U.S. institutions, underscoring the sector’s dual role as employer and educator. While tech firms dominate overall H-1B usage, higher ed remains a steady contributor to the program’s long-term workforce development goals. Read more.

Six Public Universities Named Finalists for APLU’s 2025 Innovation & Economic Prosperity Awards

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has announced six finalists for its prestigious 2025 Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) University Awards, recognizing institutions that demonstrate exemplary commitment to regional economic development through innovation, talent, and place-based strategies. The finalists — Clemson University, Iowa State University, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the University of Georgia — were selected from among 80+ IEP-designated institutions nationwide. Winners will be revealed at the APLU Annual Meeting this November. Read more.

Bayh-Dole Coalition Members Warn Royalty Seizure Plan Threatens U.S. Innovation Ecosystem

The Bayh-Dole Coalition this month surveyed its members — spanning academia, industry, associations and investors — on the administration's plan for the U.S. government to seize half of university patent royalties (infographic). Key finding: Coalition members warned the plan would undermine Bayh-Dole, slowing innovation, discouraging commercialization and reducing public benefit. "Changing the current system risks reversing decades of progress. Preserving Bayh-Dole means preserving America’s innovation engine," writes the Coalition. Read more.

Webinar Alert: AURP's Brian Darmody joined a Bayh-Dole Coalition webinar (Oct. 9th) on "Does the Government Receive an ROI for Academic Inventions?" Watch here.

OSU-Cascades Seeks Developer for New Innovation District

Oregon State University–Cascades has launched a nationwide search for a lead developer to build the first phase of its future 24-acre Innovation District in Bend, OR. Designed to foster research, commercial innovation and student experiential learning, the district will feature labs, classrooms, retail, housing and outdoor gathering spaces. The selected partner will lease land from OSU and oversee the design, construction and management of up to five buildings, with the first two slated to begin construction in 2028. The district will target industries like outdoor products, energy systems, and biotech, aligning with regional economic priorities and OSU’s academic strengths. Read more.

AURP Out and About . . .

AURP's Air and Space Caucus was represented at a meeting of Maryland Aerospace Alliance (September 30th) in Greenbelt, MD. Representatives from The Planetary Society discussed implications of funding shortfalls for NASA and related federal agencies and provided a tool kit to add your voice to protecting research and exploration in space.

AURP sponsored the 11th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Week at US Pharmacopeia last month, joining BIO, UMD Institute for Health Computing and GMU Institute for Bio Health Innovation. AURP's Brian Darmody spoke on AURP's role in building communities of bio innovation, the role of philanthropy in advancing medical technologies and moderated a panel on the outlook for federal funding for NIH and other government agencies.

AURP's RAIN (Rural Autonomous Innovation Network) showered network knowledge and partnering opportunities during this week's UAS Summit in Grand Fork, ND. Joining Vickie Palmer, AURP CEO, and Brian Darmody, AURP CSO, was Marcel Johnson of Tech Port San Antonio. Attendees were in awe of the ambitious community of innovation planned for San Antonio's former Kelly Air Force Base, including the planned vertiport.

At the recent UIDP 2025 Conference in Chicago, AURP CEO Vickie Palmer connected with new and current AURP members. A session highlight featured an impressive showcase of AURP members, including a panel with Kevin Byrne of The University Financing Foundation, Jeff Smith of MSU Research Foundation, Jeremy Slater of Purdue Research Park and Laura Appenzeller of University of Illinois Research Park.

State officials and private developers have launched construction of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on Chicago’s Southeast Side, aiming to transform the former U.S. Steel South Works site into a hub for quantum technology, research and innovation. Backed by $500 million in state funding and $200 million in tax incentives for anchor tenant PsiQuantum, the park (led by Harley Johnson, in photo) will host major players like IBM, Argonne National Lab and several universities. The development includes a 53-bed hospital, over 100 acres of green space, and promises thousands of jobs and billions in private investment. While some residents raise environmental concerns, leaders say the project will restore economic vitality to a historically disinvested area. Read more.

The University of Chicago has announced plans to develop a cutting-edge life sciences research and development hub in collaboration with private partners, including Trammell Crow Company and Beacon Capital Partners. Located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, the 18-story facility will span 500,000 square feet and serve as a nexus for biotech innovation, academic research, and commercial collaboration. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and completion targeted for 2028. Read more.

Nebraska Innovation Studio (on October 6th) celebrated 10 years of making. For the past decade, this community makerspace at Nebraska Innovation Campus has been the place to tinker, create and innovate. To mark its 10th anniversary, the makerspace is expanding its entrepreneurial footprint with the launch of the Frontier Tech Lab — a service center designed to connect people and companies with new ideas to expert staff and students who can help bring them to life. Read more.

#AURPinAction

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.

Take a look at Johns Hopkins University's 2025 report on Quantifying the Economic Footprint and Catalytic Role of Johns Hopkins!

Share your impact report on our website! Learn more.

AURP CAREER CENTER

Check out the AURP Career Center to discover your

next career opportunity, including:



• Assistant Vice-President, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship – University of Toronto
• Associate Provost for Research and Innovation, and Director of Atwood Innovation Plaza – Utah Tech University
• Chief Operating Officer, Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology – University of Virginia
• Director of Research Park Operations – University of Tennessee Research Park
• University Director of Technology Ventures – The City University of New York