Economic Impact of Research Parks to be Presented at International Research Park Conference in St. Louis
October 16, 2007

ST. LOUIS, MO – The results of a first-ever study of the economic impact of North American research parks will be unveiled when the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) 2007 meets for its annual conference here October 24 – 26 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel. The conference will bring officials from scores of the world’s leading scientific research and technological innovation centers to St. Louis for seminars and visits to several St. Louis research facilities.

The economic impact study was jointly sponsored and conducted by AURP and Battelle Technology Partnership, which serves economic development organizations, universities and non-profit technology organizations across the United States.

“We took a broad look at the collective impact of research parks across the continent,” said Austin Beggs, AURP president and director of corporate relations for Innovation Place, which operates two research parks in Saskatchewan, Canada. ”We know that research parks create communities of scientists and business people, which yield great results for local and regional economies. They also improve the overall quality of life for all of us through new products, techniques and knowledge.”

The St. Louis metropolitan region is home to a growing number of research and technology centers including the University of Missouri’s Missouri Research Park in St. Charles County with 17 high tech companies and agencies; the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, a not-for-profit biotech research institute; the Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, a plant and life sciences incubator; the Center for Emerging Technologies (CET), named one of the top 10 technology incubators in the country; and Cortex, a not-for-profit organization of five premier educational and research institutions.

Presenters at the St. Louis AURP conference include:
Sandy K. Baruah, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
Bob Willard, noted author and expert on sustainable growth strategies
Walter Plosila, Vice President, Battelle Technology Partnership
Marianne Clarke, Washington Director, Battelle Technology Partnership
Richard Fleming, President/CEO, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association.

Research parks are specialized centers for accelerating research through cooperation between universities, local and regional economic development authorities, and innovation-oriented commercial enterprises. The AURP conference brings together planners, operators and users of these facilities from around the world to provide a forum for improving the efficiency, effectiveness and scope of positive impact these organizations bring to their communities.