Research Park RoundUp: AURP and NRC Testify on Research Park Bill

A bill being debated in Congress would provide federal support for the development of research parks, a major contributor to scientific discovery, technology commercialization and new company formation. S. 583, entitled the Building A Stronger America Act and introduced earlier this year, would make available grants and loan guarantees for the development and construction of science parks to promote the clustering of innovation through high technology activities. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will hear testimony today in support of the legislation from Brian Darmody, President of the Association of University Research Parks and Charles Wessner of the National Research Council. Over the past few months, several announcements for development of new research parks have been made from around the world. Following is an overview of select announcements.

Florida Institute of Technology and Melbourne International Airport last week announced plans to build a technology research park on 100 acres of land located within the Airport Industrial Park. The goal for the Florida Tech Research Park is to link university research with companies involved in cutting-edge technologies, particularly in life sciences, engineering and aeronautic fields, reports Florida Today.

The product of a partnership between Fairleigh Dickinson University and the Citi Foundation, the Pennval Road Green Technology Park & Business Incubator is designed to promote the startup and production of clean energy technologies, sustainable energy sources, green R&D, and environmental manufacturing and construction. The technology park also will feature a green business incubator to foster new and emerging companies with technology directly related to the environmental sector, according to a press release. The project was launched with $250,000 in federal funds, $15,000 from the Citi Foundation, and additional state, local and private support.

The city of Portland, ME, will spend $660,000 to match a federal Economic Development Administration grant for development of a 26-acre biotechnology business park to attract biotechnology, pharmaceutical and nanotechnology companies, reports the Portland Press Herald. The development concept for the Portland Technology Park contains nine building pads along a 1,400-foot road. The federal grant will pay for road construction and utility installation, the article notes.

Designed as a platform for Singapore-based companies to showcase and deploy clean technology innovations, the Hangzhou-Singapore Eco Park will be developed by a consortium of private sector firms and Hangzhou’s municipal government following a signed Memorandum of Understanding, reports the Business Times Singapore. The development will be carried out in two phases and is expected to cost up to $2 billion USD. In addition to clean technology-based light industrial areas, the park will house commercial, retail and residential segments, and service apartments.

The City of Kearney, NE, will develop a technology park intended to attract data centers and technology industries. A grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development will assist in planning and marketing efforts, according to a press release. The city is required to match the funds received for each of the three planned phases of development, reports KearnyHub.com. Construction is slated for July 2010 on what is now a 160-acre soybean field.

Plans for a £37 million ($60 million USD) Bioscience Campus in Stevenage, Hertfordshire were announced in October by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. The Bioscience Campus will serve as a hub for biotechnology companies, housing up to 25 companies and creating up to 1,500 high-tech jobs. Funding for the project is provided by a partnership of the overnment, GlaxoSmithKline, The Wellcome Trust, Technology Strategy Board, and the East of England Development Agency.