Newswise — The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 and now included in America COMPETES is support for the development of research, science and technology parks.
“The Power of Innovation in the United States can only be fully realized with the right set of funding priorities and policies,” said the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) President Brian Darmody. “The America COMPETES Act is a critical link in maintaining U.S. dominance in innovation and R&D funding, and we are gratified that research parks and regional innovation clusters, which are so important to job creation and growth, are included in the legislation.”
The America COMPETES Reauthorization of 2010 adds university research parks planning and loan guarantees, supports regional innovation clusters and adds entrepreneurship into STEM activities.
"Once America COMPETES is enacted, the U.S. government will for the first time have a comprehensive federal approach to supporting university research parks and linking them with innovation clusters. Truly an historic occasion," said Darmody, noting that the U.S. created the world's first research park at Stanford University 50 years ago, but other countries have since surpassed the U.S. in terms of size and development of their research and science parks.
Discussion of new federal funding opportunities for regional clusters, university research parks and technology-led economic development as a result of this pending legislation will take place at the AURP 2010 International Conference: Building the Innovation Engine, September 15-17, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
AURP 2010 welcomes economic development officials, research park directors and innovation leaders for important updates and strategies driving innovation, job creation and economic growth.
“As we develop policy to keep the U.S. competitive, we bring together the country’s innovation leaders to collaborate, build stronger regional clusters and take the lead in global competition.” said Darmody.
For more information and to register for the AURP 2010 International Conference, visit www.AURP.net.
About AURP: The Association of University Research Parks is a professional association of university-related research and science parks. AURP’s mission is to foster innovation, commercialization and economic growth in a global economy through university, industry and government partnerships. For more information visit our Web site at www.aurp.net or contact Chelsea Simpson at [email protected].
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