For this issue's "One Text With . . . ", we're delighted to present Stephanie Moran, Senior Vice President, Innovation, with GO Topeka!

AURP: "Hi Stephanie! What are some new research and commercialization projects or related news at GO Topeka?"

Stephanie: “Innovation Center 2.0! In December, Topeka and Shawnee County’s Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) approved $9.5M in funding for the Innovation Center 2.0 Project. This project will create an Innovation Center in Downtown Topeka, located at 220 SE 6th street. The initial phase will build out the first floor with approximately 17k SF including 7.6k SF of Lab Space, 2.5k SF of pitch/event space and 7.0k SF of office, co-working, conference room and will include our Plug and Play accelerator program. Construction is set to begin by June 1st, with a completion date in early 2026. We are excited for this Innovation district in Downtown Topeka!”

AURP: "This is so great to hear! – super congratulations, Stephanie, and no doubt, GO Topeka!!"

AURP COMMUNITY PULSE

WV Regional Technology Park's Matt Ballard

Thursday, February 20, 2025, 2:30-3:00 ET

Our first Members-only Community Pulse was a HIT! Join in our next member-sharing to learn and grow from our unique Community of Innovation. Engage in this peer discussion.

Matt Ballard, CEO & Executive Director of the West Virginia Regional Technology Park, is next up to lead our peer-to-peer discussion in this live online member forum!

Don't miss this the opportunity to learn from and interact with colleagues!

Join us each month to learn from your peers "one beat at a time" at AURP's Community Pulse:

MARCH 13, 2:30pm ET | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES 

Hal Monbouquette, PhD, Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, UCLA Samueli School of Engineering

APRIL 17, 2:30pm ET | MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY INNOVATION CAMPUS

Mark Sharpe, Executive Directors, MSU Innovation Campus

Zach Miles currently serves as Senior Associate Vice President for Economic Development at UNLV and Executive Director of the UNLV Research Foundation.

In these capacities Zach oversees industry engagement activities for UNLV, including industry sponsored collaborations, technology commercialization, small businesses development support, venture engagements, and interactions between UNLV and the greater economic development ecosystem in support of entrepreneurship, innovation, industry engagement and development and diversification efforts. 

In his capacity as the Executive Director, Zach oversees the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park dedicated to fostering mutually beneficial collaborations between UNLV and high-tech corporations through utilization of the physical assets of the park. Zach founded Black Fire Innovation, a hospitality lab with associated coworking space (commonly referred to as REBELWORK). He also orchestrated recent engagement with Intermountain Health to establish a stand alone pediatric hospital at the Park and Birtcher Development that is constructing a film and media production facility. Both of these projects have strong ties and collaborations with UNLV.

Zach has served on many state and agency boards and championed innovation through similar positions at the University of Utah and Oklahoma State University.

Zach is the youngest of five kids in his family and the only boy (there may be photos out there of him playing dress-up with his sisters!). He has the very prestigious accomplishment of having made two hole in ones (golf) with one of them as a participant in NIGHT golf (that's right, during nighttime) - and Zach was once ranked as a top 25 youth golfer in the state of Utah.

For his own family, Zach has two daughters, one who started at UNLV and finished at Oklahoma State University, and his youngest is now a freshman at UNLV. Zach has been married to his lovely wife Carrie for 28 years, and they have always been right next to each other in their life experiences.

Resources & Announcements

Celebrating the grand opening (L-R) Thomas Osha of Wexford, Jane Schaab of UMB BioPark, and Vickie Palmer of AURP.

Waded Cruzado Named APLU President

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has announced Waded Cruzado, current President of Montana State University, as its next president, effective July 1. Cruzado brings extensive experience in higher education leadership, having transformed Montana State University during her tenure since 2010 with significant achievements including 35% growth in student enrollment, record retention rates, and a 162% increase in research expenditures. She succeeds Mark Becker in leading the APLU. Read more.

AURP: Lighting Up the Las Vegas Strip at CES

AURP members were in full force at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest tech showcase. CES attendees and AURP members explored the worlds of technology commercialization, autonomy, quantum computing and federal support mechanisms for small technological businesses. CES facilitated connections with AURP members and planning for the AURP 2025 International Conference in Las Vegas this fall. 

At the U.S. Government booth, SBA and EDA representatives including Brittany Strickler, SBA’s Director of Ecosystem Development, shared that the new round of SBA Growth Accelerator Funding, is now open.

AURP's Brian Darmody met with Mayo Clinic’s and NACRO Board member Tammy Eickhoff (photo, right) about the recently launched AURP/NACRO partnership.

IonQ, recipient of AURP’s Innovation Award at the 2021 AURP Conference, led a panel to discuss the role of quantum computing and quantum sensing delivering new technologies to the world.

AURP members in exhibition hall included Case Western Reserve University, representing the Ohio Discovery Corridor and Cleveland Innovation District; NC State University Tech Transfer Office; and Michigan State University plus the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, promoting the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, Indianapolis on June 2-5, 2025.

The CES track on autonomous technology further demonstrated the impact this technology is having on both defense and civilian sectors, providing an opportunity to network with national thought leaders and AURP’s Rural Autonomous Network (RAIN), funded by the SBA Growth Accelerator.

In Memoriam: Bill Hamilton, 77, Co-Founder, TechSmith Corp.

and Friend to MSU Research Foundation

Bill Hamilton, 77, founder and Chairman of TechSmith Corporation, passed away last month, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the tech industry, as a friend to the MSU Research Foundation, and the greater Lansing, Michigan community. After graduating from Michigan State University, Hamilton founded TechSmith in 1987 and made a pivotal decision to transition from IT services to product development, launching the widely successful screen capture tool, SnagIt, in 1991.

His company was located at the University Corporate Research Park near Michigan State’s campus. Under his leadership, TechSmith grew into a global company serving over 80 million customers worldwide. His dedication to community development, support of STEM education and contributions to the local innovation ecosystem continue to impact the region. Read more.

Our condolences to Mr. Hamilton's family and the MSU Research Foundation community.

UC Davis is set to significantly transform its Sacramento campus with the launch of Aggie Square, a 11-acre innovation district featuring over 1.2 million square feet of public and private space. With 60% of the space leased by the university, key tenants include the School of Medicine, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory and Department of Biomedical Engineering, focusing on cutting-edge research in neurosciences, cancer and medical device development. The economic impact is substantial, with projections suggesting nearly $5 billion annual contribution to the Sacramento region's economy and the generation of 25,000 jobs. The development, undertaken in partnership with in partnership with Wexford Science & Technology, also includes affordable housing, community benefit commitments and a strong emphasis on fostering entrepreneurship and technological innovation. Read more.

Ohio is positioning itself as a prime business destination through strategic economic development initiatives led by JobsOhio, according to Axios. The state offers significant advantages including a 0% corporate income tax, a robust manufacturing workforce and strategic logistics location. By investing $1.45 billion in workforce development, fostering innovation through the Ohio Discovery Corridor, and leveraging over 200 educational institutions, Ohio aims to generate 60,000 jobs and $9 billion in economic impact over the next decade. JobsOhio (AURP member) supports businesses across ten industries, connects companies with talent solutions, and provides customized growth strategies that bridge innovation from research to commercialization. Read more.

Virginia Tech's research spending reached $598.1 million in 2023, with the university showing strong growth in federally funded research based on new NSF data, according to the Cardinal News. The university saw notable increases in U.S. Defense Department-related research and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grants, with federally funded research growing by 17.4% since 2022 – nearly double the national average of 9%. This growth coincides with Daniel Sui's appointment as senior vice president for research and innovation in 2020, who has reorganized Tech's research programs around four main fields: artificial intelligence, health, security, and quantum. (AURP's Brian Darmody is quoted in this Cardinal News article.) Read more.  

New Jersey is investing $8.6 million to create an Aerospace Innovation Center (AIC) in Atlantic County, with additional funding of $10.5 million from local partners. The 40,000-square-foot facility, located in the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park, will be the first of seven Strategic Innovation Centers focused on aerospace. Set to be fully operational by January 2026, the AIC will provide cutting-edge research spaces, high-speed connectivity to FAA data systems, and collaborative work environments. Partnering with universities like Rowan, Rutgers, Stockton and Embry-Riddle, the center aims to support research, development, and entrepreneurship in the aerospace industry, positioning New Jersey as a leader in advanced aerospace technologies such as drones and electric flying taxis. Read more.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's School of Architecture and Design is spearheading the development of the Levity and Les Deux Bayous S.T.E.A.M. Park, a 5-acre educational and cultural hub near Arnaudville, LA. Students are designing and will help construct the site, which will feature innovative facilities like an Aqua House built with modular blocks made from landfill-bound plastic. The park will include diverse amenities such as a planetarium, amphitheater, sculpture garden, community garden, artist's residence, farmer's market, and more, with a focus on integrating science, technology, entertainment, art and mathematics while preserving local culture and promoting environmental stewardship. Read more.

Miami University and Cleveland Clinic have announced a groundbreaking partnership to establish Ohio's first specialized quantum computing degree programs, leveraging Cleveland Clinic's IBM Quantum System One. The collaboration will create educational offerings from bachelor's to doctoral levels, focusing on quantum computing applications in healthcare and life sciences. Students will gain expertise through internships in the Cleveland Innovation District, with the goal of developing talent that can drive technological innovation and potentially establish careers in Ohio. Read more.

GO Virginia has awarded $14.3 million to three Virginia biotech accelerator organizations through "Project VITAL," with CvilleBioHub receiving $4.3 million to establish the region's first laboratory accelerator at the University of Virginia's North Fork Discovery Park. The partnership between CvilleBioHub and UVA will create a state-of-the-art wet lab space to support early-stage life sciences companies, with additional funding from UVA totaling $850,000 and supplemental support from private donors and local economic development agencies. The accelerator, set to launch in February, aims to attract and prepare promising life sciences startups in therapeutics, medical devices, digital health and other innovative health technologies, building on the state's significant $112 million investment in research institutions. 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 Michigan's just-released 2024 Annual 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:



• Dean, School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences – University of California San Diego
• Executive Director of Real Estate Development – University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Associate Vice President for Research Administration – University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• Associate Vice President for Research Advancement – University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• President and Chief Executive Officer – Nexus Louisiana (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Communications Manager – UC Davis / Aggie Square
• Vice Provost for Research and Innovation – Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, CA)
• Operations and Tenant Engagement Manager – Montgomery College (Rockville, MD)
• Founding Dean – Vanderbilt University (College of Connected Computing)
• Technology Manager – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Intellectual Property Manager – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Associate Vice President for Business Engagement – Georgia Southern University
• Executive Vice President for Research – Georgia Institute of Technology