AURP Launches COMMUNITY PULSE

Virtual Forum Featuring USF Research Park's Allison Madden

Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 2:30pm-3:00pm ET

We're excited to unveil our Member-only Community Pulse series! These forum sessions will offer members the platform to share about their unique Community of Innovation plus discussion with peers. Don't miss this the opportunity to learn from and engage with colleagues.

Allison Madden, MBA, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary at the University of South Florida Research Park and incoming AURP President, will kick off peer to peer discussion in this live online member forum!

Join us in January to learn from your peers "one beat at a time" at AURP's Community Pulse - register now!

Step up to the plate! 2025 Spring Training (February 24-27) takes place at a spectacular new venue: Omni Tempe Hotel!

Let the networking and knowledge-sharing begin for your Community of Innovation! Book NOW to receive early bird rates.

Themed New Beginnings: Voices of Impact, seize the opportunity to join fellow innovators and thought leaders in exploring the power of storytelling to shape the future of research and innovation!

As usual, Spring Training promises to be a sell-out event – spots fill up quickly!

To ensure you don't miss out on this transformative experience, register as soon as possible!

Resources & Announcements

NSF Convenes Inaugural "ROADMAP Summit" Connecting Innovation Ecosystem Teams

NSF, in collaboration with the U.S. EDA, hosted its inaugural "Roadmap Summit on Regional Innovation Engines," gathering experts and stakeholders from across the country. The Summit focused on fostering collaboration, sharing strategies, and aligning efforts to drive regional innovation and economic development. This initiative aims to bridge research, industry and community priorities to create hubs of innovation that address pressing national challenges while boosting local economies. The event marks a significant step in advancing science and technology-driven growth across diverse regions in the United States. Read more.

Council on Competitiveness Releases Policy CALL TO ACTION at 2024 National Competitiveness Forum  

The Council on Competitiveness unveiled a comprehensive policy Call to Action at its National Competitiveness Forum in Washington, D.C. Titled Competing in the Next Economy: Innovating in an Age of Disruption and Discontinuity, the report presents recommendations aimed at enhancing U.S. productivity and prosperity. Key proposals include establishing a pro-growth corporate tax rate of 21% or lower; increasing R&D investment to 2% of GDP; launching an advanced nuclear energy initiative; and creating a National Bipartisan Commission on AI.

Recommendations included are parallel ideas contained in AURP's Power of Place and Power of Place 2.0, such as creating Enterprise Zones and certification process for Innovation Districts. Read more.

Bayh-Dole Coalition Webinar Focuses on U.S. Entrepreneurs as Part of Formula for Prosperity

The Bayh-Dole Coalition webinar, "Unleashing America’s Entrepreneurs: The Bayh-Dole Formula for Economic Prosperity," featured AURP's Brian Darmody. The webinar panel, moderated by Bayh-Dole Coalition's Joseph Allen, discussed how the Bayh-Dole Act plays a crucial role in bolstering the U.S. economy and its international competitiveness. Strengthening Bayh-Dole, the panelists asserted, is key to continued economic and innovative prosperity for universities, inventors and businesses across the U.S. Watch here.

Science and Engineering Research Space at Academic Institutions Totaled 240 Million Square Feet in FY23

The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) reports U.S. academic institutions expanded their science and engineering (S&E) research space to 240.2 million net assignable square feet (NASF) in FY2023, marking a 4 million NASF increase from 2021. This growth, the third lowest since 1990, reflects a modest expansion in facilities supporting the nation's $102 billion S&E research endeavors. Public universities accounted for 74% of this space, with significant allocations in biological and biomedical sciences (25%), engineering (17%), and health sciences (17%). In addition, institutions initiated 5.5 million NASF of new research space construction in 2022–23, with plans for 12.9 million NASF in 2024–25, indicating a continued commitment to advancing research infrastructure. Read more.

Inside Higher Ed: Science and the New Administration 

A recent Inside Higher Ed article on "What’s at Stake for Science as Trump Returns" quoted AURP's Brian Darmody. Brian notes: “I don’t think overall funding for research is going to increase. Research is going to be chasing headwinds. The counter to that is the interest in competing with China, and to the extent that obviates the push to reduce overall spending, there will be a lot of discussion around that.” Read more.

AURP Presence at SSTI's 2024 Annual Conference

AURP's leadership and members participated in SSTI's 2024 Annual Conference last week in Phoenix, AZ. Conference topics included regional economies and preparing for the new U.S. administration. Recognition included Dan Berglund, SSTI CEO, and AURP's 2024 Career Achievement Award recipient. AURP's session on The Role Research Parks Serve in Regional Economies featured AURP members Patrick Murphy, COO of UA Tech Parks, and Sean Edmonds, Economic Development Manager with Arizona State University.

AURP members also on hand included Harold Strong of STAR Park at Texas State University; Laura Appenzeller with Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Shafin Khan with the University of New Orleans Research and Technology Foundation; Jim Currie with 1819 Innovation Hub at the University of Cincinnati; Jessica Moose with the Center for Collaboration & Commercialization at Sandia National Laboratories; and Austin Beggs with Stiletto; among many others.

There's no way around it. The holidays are stressful due to travel, disrupted routines, expenses and family gatherings.

But we have many tools in our toolbox to relieve tension in both our bodies and our minds.

Dr. Theresa of Movement Rx (NEW AURP member) recently posted live on YouTube to give you 12 practical strategies for relieving stress this holiday season!

Watch the full recording with Dr. T to dive into the details or learn "3 Ways to Tackle Holiday Stress in 10 Minutes or Less" in the Movement Rx blog.

Montana State University's Innovation Campus has announced a partnership with Aurora Lidar, a leading technology company specializing in autonomous vehicle sensors, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Aurora Lidar will establish a presence on the Innovation Campus, furthering its R&D efforts in lidar technology while collaborating with MSU researchers and students. The partnership aims to advance innovations in autonomous systems and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in this emerging technology field. Read more.

The University of Vermont (UVM) is advancing its mission as a land-grant research university by supporting faculty in bringing innovations to market and launching new companies. To accelerate the societal impact of groundbreaking research, UVM Innovations offers the SPARK-VT program, which leverages the expertise of industry leaders and entrepreneurs to critically evaluate and support promising applications of new knowledge. The program aims to foster a culture of innovation, enhance commercialization efforts, boost competitiveness for research funding, and educate participants on transitioning discoveries into practical applications. Faculty and researchers are encouraged to submit their applications on February 21, 2025. Read more.​

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has received a $1 million grant from Google.org to establish the nation’s first HBCU-based Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The funding will support research, training and educational initiatives aimed at advancing AI innovation while increasing diversity in the technology field. The institute will serve as a hub for developing cutting-edge AI applications and equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in this growing industry. This milestone underscores NCCU’s leadership in technology and education, as well as its commitment to addressing equity in STEM fields. Read more.

David Schwebel, currently Associate Vice President for Research Facilities and Infrastructure and University Professor of Psychology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has been appointed the University of Iowa's next Vice President for Research, effective July 1, 2025. Schwebel has held various leadership roles at UAB since 2006. He earned his MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1996 and 2000, respectively, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Yale University in 1994. Read more.

Marshall University is expanding its footprint in Huntington, WV, acquiring several properties as part of its ongoing efforts to build an innovation district. The move aligns with Marshall’s strategic vision for creating opportunities that benefit students, faculty and the surrounding area. “That Innovation District will house key aspects of our strategic plan and the city’s strategic plan, which is cyber security, advanced manufacturing, business and entrepreneurship,” said Marshall President Brad Smith. 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.

Check out the 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report: Transforming Futures: The Economic Engine of HBCUs!

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 Research Administration – University of Minnesota
• Executive Director for Real Estate Development – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 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
• Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and Executive Director – Montgomery College Foundation (Rockville, MD)