2026 Spring Training Registration is Now Open! | |
Registration is now open for AURP Spring Training 2026, taking place March 9–12, 2026, at the Tempe Mission Palms in Tempe, Arizona.
The program, Building Resilient and Innovative Ecosystems: Partnership, People and Purpose, will bring together leaders from research parks and innovation districts for learning, collaboration, and networking.
| | | Don't Forget to Renew your Membership for 2026 | | |
Reminder: AURP memberships are approaching their expiration date.
Membership renewal season is here, AURP community! We’re incredibly grateful for every one of our members and the energy, ideas, and momentum you bring to our global innovation ecosystem.
Your engagement strengthens our network and drives the collaboration that moves our industry forward. We can’t wait to keep building, connecting, and innovating together in the year ahead!
| | Congratulations to our
2026 AURP Board of Directors! | AURP has announced its 2026 Board of Directors and Officers, elected by peers from across its global network of research parks and innovation districts. AURP leadership highlighted the Board’s role in advancing collaboration, knowledge exchange, and vibrant innovation ecosystems worldwide. Read more | |
| Resources & Announcements | | |
The National Science Foundation has announced several new and expanded initiatives aimed at strengthening U.S. innovation and moving research toward real-world impact.
-
STRIDE Ventures: NSF has launched STRIDE Ventures to accelerate technology translation and strengthen U.S. leadership in critical and strategic minerals. Its first funding opportunity, the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge, focuses on securing domestic supply chains through breakthrough metal recovery technologies. Learn more.
-
Tech Labs Initiative: NSF introduced the Tech Labs Initiative to support independent, interdisciplinary research teams tackling complex challenges beyond traditional labs. The program offers milestone-based funding and is seeking community input through a Request for Information. Learn more.
-
Accelerating Research Translation (ART): NSF has expanded its ART program to help institutions of higher education build and scale research translation capacity. The opportunity includes five tracks supporting institutions at varying readiness levels, with awards ranging from $3 million to $8 million. Learn more.
| | |
The Bayh-Dole Coalition urges AURP members to comment on OSTP’s new RFI on strengthening the U.S. scientific and technological enterprise. Members are encouraged to highlight how proposals to take university patent royalties or misuse march-in rights would harm commercialization, startups, and the innovation ecosystem.
Comments are due December 26, 2025. Learn more and access the full RFI here
| | The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology has released a new paper, The Future of Science, outlining strategies to modernize the U.S. scientific enterprise and accelerate innovation. The report highlights policy and funding approaches with implications for research institutions, innovation ecosystems, and national competitiveness. Learn more | | |
Van Scoyoc Associates – Washington Updates
📌AURP Members: As a reminder, these weekly Van Scoyoc Associates Updates, provide a comprehensive digest report of key Washington, DC policy, budget and legislative updates available weekly in the AURP Member Portal. GAIN ACCESS HERE.
| | AURP Member & Industry News | | |
Congratulations to AURP members who were selected as winners of the 2025 NSF Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, which recognizes leading accelerators advancing innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional economic growth. This year’s awardees represent the strength and diversity of the national innovation ecosystem and the critical role accelerators play in translating research into impact. Learn more about the 2025 awardees
| | |
AURP engaged with the global space, Earth, and ocean science community at AGU25, the world’s largest gathering of these researchers, held December 15–18 in New Orleans. AURP hosted a panel featuring Brian Darmody, AURP Chief Strategy Officer, alongside leaders from Tulane University and the UNO Research and Technology Foundation, highlighting how science parks connect researchers, industry, and government to drive community economic impact. AURP also exhibited at the conference alongside numerous member universities, underscoring the strong presence of research parks within the global research ecosystem.
| | |
The University of South Dakota Discovery District has released its 2025 South Dakota Bioscience Market Study, a comprehensive analysis of the state’s emerging strengths in bioscience, life sciences, and technology-driven research. The report outlines how South Dakota’s affordability, development speed, and collaborative public-private environment are positioning the region as a competitive location for early stage and growth stage bioscience companies. “Founders tell us the same thing everywhere we go,” said Ryan Oines, President of the USD Discovery District. “They need time for their science to mature, and many are finding that South Dakota gives them more breathing room than the major coastal hubs. Read More.
| | |
CASIS has been selected to continue managing the International Space Station National Laboratory through 2030, extending opportunities for research, commercialization, and public-private partnerships in low Earth orbit. The renewed agreement reinforces the ISS National Lab’s role in advancing innovation across sectors critical to the U.S. economy and global competitiveness. Read More.
| | |
Tech Parks Arizona announced that The Refinery, the flagship building at the UA Tech Park at The Bridges, has earned LEED Silver Certification, marking a major milestone in sustainable design and development. The four-story, 120,000-square-foot facility was created to support collaboration between University of Arizona programs and industry partners while prioritizing energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. The achievement highlights how research parks can advance innovation and economic growth while operating responsibly. Read More.
| | |
A fast-growing biotech firm with $40 million in funding has relocated its headquarters to Pegasus Park, highlighting the power of innovation districts to attract and retain scaling life sciences companies. The move reflects how integrated ecosystems, combining research partnerships, specialized infrastructure, and access to talent, can support company growth and commercialization. The relocation also underscores the role of place-based strategies in strengthening regional biotech clusters. Read More.
| | |
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and gener8tor have launched the sixth cohort of their AgTech Accelerator, welcoming 10 startups focused on advancing innovation in agriculture and the biosciences. The program connects early-stage companies with research expertise, mentorship, and industry networks to help translate cutting-edge science into scalable solutions. HudsonAlpha leaders emphasize the accelerator’s role in supporting founders tackling real-world challenges in food, sustainability, and ag innovation. Read More.
| | |
Check out the AURP Career Center to discover your next career opportunity, including:
- Assistant Vice-President, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship – University of Toronto
- Chief Operating Officer, Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology – University of Virginia
- Director of Industry Engagement – University of California, Davis
- Program Manager, Health Venture Studio and Investment Programs – University of California, Davis
-
VP, Facilities Services & Campus Planning – University of Delaware
| | SUBMIT YOUR STORY FOR A FUTURE PARK POST! | | 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! | | | | |
