Ready to sightsee? At AURP's IC24, boost your knowledge

and networking with our dynamic set of optional tours

that inspire innovation and forward-thinking!

The Collaborative – Just minutes away from our conference headquarters, explore the catalyst that propels the innovation ecosystem in Bentonville!

Ledger – The hub for conference activity as well as community. Take a deep dive into the first bikeable building and discover how this coworking facility changes the game in collaboration!

New WalMart Campus’s State of the Art Fitness Center – Join the group to explore the future of holistic well-being and state-of-the-art fitness at the brand new WalMart HQ fitness facility!

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art – A must-see attraction in Bentonville, Crystal Bridges offers beauty and history in a magical setting!

Buzzing New Trails Bike Ride – A short, group ride in the "Mountain Bike Capital of the World," hosted by conference chair, Toby Teeter. An excellent way to see the sites and experience the finest parts of Bentonville!

*Optional tours are included in your registration - but there's limited availability - register now and book your spot!

Book Overflow Hotel Reservations by October 21!

Our conference hotel, The Motto, is sold out!

Book your hotel room at our overflow hotel:

Comfort Inn Bentonville – Crystal Bridges

3001 NE 11th St. Bentonville, AR

Hotel Direct: 479.254.7800

Deadline: October 21, 2024

As an experienced and dedicated construction manager, general contractor and design/builder, Adam Eshelbrenner's focus at Whiting-Turner over the past 24 years has been in constructing facilities for life science; pharmaceutical; R&D; biomedical research; vivarium & high containment; higher education; and other related mission critical clients. 

Residing in the suburbs of Kansas City, he enjoys anything that puts him and his family actively outdoors, creating memories through travel, laughter and new experiences. 

He is an avid Kansas City sports fan and enjoys the best (and only) season KC has to offer through beautiful BBQ weather, Kansas State Wildcat football and an unwavering ambassador of Chiefs Kingdom. 

Adam was appointed to the AURP Board of Directors in 2024 following the retirement of fellow Whiting-Turner colleague and AURP board member, Chris Carlson. In recent years, Adam has supported the AURP mission by serving on the Spring Training Committee (2023, 2024), Women of AURP as sponsor and speaker coordinator, and 2024 International Conference Planning Committee.

Resources & Announcements

EDA Accepting Applications for FY24

Build to Scale Program

U.S. EDA is accepting applications for its FY24 Build to Scale (B2S) program funded at $50 million. The program supports innovators, entrepreneurs and startups transforming ideas into the critical, emerging technologies of the future. Deadline is October 28, 2024.

Eligible applicants include a state, an Indian Tribe, a city or other political subdivision of a state, including nonprofit organizations; institutions of higher education; public-private partnerships; science or research parks; economic development organizations or similar entities focused on improving science, technology, innovation or entrepreneurship (or a consortium of any of these). Learn more.

NSF launches new initiative to safeguard open-source ecosystems in view of an evolving threat landscape

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched a $15 million initiative, Safe-OSE, to enhance the safety, security and privacy of open-source ecosystems (OSEs).

This program seeks to address vulnerabilities in these ecosystems to strengthen their resilience against potential threats like cyberattacks. Up to 10 projects will receive $1.5 million each to improve the security of open-source products and their supply chains.

Preliminary proposals are due by November 4, 2024.

The Safe-OSE program builds on NSF's Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE) initiative, focusing on long-term ecosystem management. Read more.

AURP Celebrates the Bio Health Capital Region

AURP members and sponsors from the DC-MD-VA area gathered at U.S. Pharmacopeia headquarters last week in Rockville, MD to learn about and celebrate the growth of the region into one of the nation’s top three bio clusters.

Rich Bendis, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation and AURP BIO Health Caucus co-chair, presided over the forum. Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and BIO CEO and President John Crowley were among the distinguished guests.

UMD Discovery District, UM BioPark, George Mason University, UVA Discovery Park, Activation Capital at VCU, VA Tech, George Washington University and Children’s National were among AURP members attending.

JLL, VirginiaBio, Scheer Partners, MCB Life Sciences, TEDCO, Fulton Bank, Maryland Department of Commerce, ARPA-H, Georgetown University, Frederick County and Montgomery County, MD were among the AURP sponsors and friends at the forum.

AURP Board member Amy Adams, Executive Director, Institute for Biohealth Innovation with George Mason University, led a discussion of the region’s med tech leaders while AURP Chief Strategy Officer Brian Darmody led a panel with FDA, NIH and Connected DMV to discuss the role of AI/Machine Learning and Quantum tech in the discovery of new drugs and devices.

Mary Morris from UMB Bio Park gave an update on the growth of the Baltimore bio tech hub. AURP board member Will Germain discussed MCB Life Sciences and the Viva White Oak project adjacent to the FDA campus in Maryland.

Alex Phillippidis of GEN gave a national overview of bio clusters, reaffirming the DC-MD-VA area’s top three ranking. The forum was followed by an investor summit that featured spin out companies, including a set of bio startup firms from AURP member universities.

centennial.ncsu.edu

NC State's Centennial Campus is a place for thinkers and doers to advance their industries – and the world. Here, industry-leading software engineers, scientists, climatologists, academics, engineers and many others work in cutting-edge facilities to develop innovative solutions to global challenges. And they seek the best and brightest minds to help them do it.

Whether you’re a student seeking an internship or a seasoned professional seeking career advancement, this is a place for change makers, learners and explorers. We’re home to large corporations, small businesses and everything in between. If you’re on your own, you can even try our coworking spaces. The next step in your career could be right here.

The Berkeley Space Center, a $2 billion project at NASA Ames Research Park, aims to revolutionize space-focused R&D by fostering collaboration between academia, industry and government, according to Commercial Property Executive. A joint venture between SKS Partners, UC Berkeley, and NASA, the center will span up to 2.3 million square feet and focus on fields like space biology, AI and planetary defense. Set in Silicon Valley, the project has already attracted significant interest, positioning it as a hub for innovation and sustainable development in space exploration and related technologies. Read more.

Architect Adam Gross will retire this fall after a 40-year career at Ayers Saint Gross (AURP member), where he helped the Baltimore firm grow from eight employees to over 190, according to the Baltimore Business Journal. His work also includes major master plans, like the Pratt Street corridor and Harbor Point, earning him numerous accolades and board positions at Goucher College and the New England Commission of Higher Education. Gross says his early love for the humanities inspired his career, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful design. Read more.

Lexington, KY is emerging as a Midwest tech hub with the development of the LexTech Corridor, a 50-acre innovation district near the University of Kentucky (home to the Coldstream Research Campus), according to The Lexington Sun. The project, supported by state and federal funds, has attracted interest from major tech companies and will offer a mix of office, residential and retail spaces. It emphasizes sustainability, collaboration and connecting with university research. While there are local community concerns about infrastructure strain, officials say they are addressing these with affordable housing and infrastructure upgrades. Read more.

321 Coffee, a Raleigh-based coffee shop employing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has opened a new location on NC State's Centennial Campus. The café, co-founded by alumni Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans, marks a "homecoming" as the business began with campus pop-ups. The new shop offers coffee, light food, and co-branded "Greater Good" coffee, with proceeds supporting scholarships. This is 321 Coffee’s fifth location, continuing its mission to address the high unemployment rate among adults with disabilities. Read more.

UW-Green Bay and Brown County, WI are planning Phoenix Innovation Park, a mixed-use development on 64 acres to foster entrepreneurship and support local business growth, according to a Wisconsin Public Radio article. The Park will include academic and research facilities, a hotel, restaurant and housing. The park builds on the success of the 2019 STEM Innovation Center, housing UW-Green Bay's engineering school. The project aims to support the region's economy by encouraging innovation and keeping talent local, though its full completion will take several years. The university is now seeking state and local approvals. (AURP is cited in this article.)

Read more.

Andrew Duffell, President of the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), is driving innovation by fostering collaboration between academic researchers and tech companies. In a Q&A with the South Florida Business Journal, Duffell talks about The Park and initiatives such as the FAU Tech Runway and Global Ventures, which serves as a hub for startups and established firms working on cutting-edge technologies in healthcare, AI and sustainability. By providing space and resources for research and development, Duffell notes the Park has contributed significantly to the local economy, creating high-wage jobs and helping companies secure federal grants. 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 the University of Arkansas (host of AURP's 2024 International Conference, Nov. 11-14) 2024 Economic Impact Overview report!

We're ready to include your impact report on our website! Learn more.

AURP CAREER CENTER

Check out the AURP Career Center to discover your

next career opportunity, including:

• Associate Vice President for Business Engagement – Georgia Southern University
• Executive Vice President for Research – Georgia Institute of Technology
• Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and Executive Director – Montgomery College Foundation (Rockville, MD)
• President of Speros – Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, FL)
• Wadhwani Endowed Chair in Clinical and Translational Research – University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• President, Purdue Research Foundation – Purdue University
• Real Estate Development Manager, Office of the Chancellor – California State University
• Vice President for Research & Economic Development – University of South Alabama
• Executive Director – Birmingham Bio Innovation Corporation (AL)
• Chief Executive Officer – OKC Innovation District (Oklahoma City)
• FUEL Director of Community Engagement – Louisiana State University
• FUEL Director of Technology Commercialization – Louisiana State University
• FUEL Director of Workforce Development – Louisiana State University
• FUEL Director of Use Inspired Research & Development – Louisiana State University
• Executive Director of the School of Computer and Data Sciences – University of Oregon