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September 30, 2004 Purdue Research Park earns top national award for 2004WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. & RESTON, Va. – The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) today (Thursday, Sept. 30) named Purdue Research Park the country's 2004 outstanding university research park.
The award was announced during the AURP's annual conference, which is taking place in San Antonio, Texas, through Saturday (Oct. 2). Purdue Research Park, located near the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Ind., has the greatest concentration of high-technology businesses within the state of Indiana and has been a magnet for new business development. Currently, more than 70 technology companies are housed in 1.3 million square feet of research and manufacturing space in the 591-acre park. The research park was established in the early 1960s but achieved its most significant growth following the creation of a business incubation program in 1993. More than 40 companies are currently "incubating" within the park's high-tech business incubation complex. Joseph Hornett, senior vice president and treasurer for the Purdue Research Foundation, which owns and manages the park, said recent successes of several of the park's emerging firms have led to a substantial increase in venture capital funding from firms across the United States. Among the companies that have incubated and grown in the Purdue Research Park environment, Hornett said, are gh LLC, a company that produces accessibility products for people with physical disabilities; Griffin Analytical Technologies Inc., a developer of miniature mass spectrometry; and SSCI Inc., a company that analyzes drug compounds for the pharmaceutical industry. "Combining entrepreneurial spirit with the discoveries and talent of Purdue researchers, faculty and students has led to exciting new firms and future growth possibilities," Hornett said. AURP represents more than 120 university research parks in the United States. The parks stimulate the creation and growth of new scientific and high-technology businesses. The primary membership of the association consists of planned and operating research parks around the world. A variety of university, governmental, not-for-profit and private organizations interested in the development and operation of technology projects and programs comprise the balance of AURP membership. Purdue Research Foundation brought home several other prestigious awards in 2004, including a TechPoint MIRA Award that named the foundation as the state's top professional service provider. The park also is a finalist this year for the Global Innovator's Award from CoreNET Global, an association for corporate real estate and related professionals. In addition, gh LLC received the 2004 Outstanding Incubator Graduate Award from the National Business Incubation Association. Contacts: Jeanine Phipps, media relations, Purdue Research Park, (765) 494-0748, jeanine@purdue.edu Donald Elder, AURP, (703) 768-0704 or (703) 768-8979, mediawise@att.net Sources: Joseph Hornett, senior vice president and treasurer, Purdue Research Foundation, (765) 496-1658, jbhornett@purdueresearchfoundation.org Gregory Deason, vice president of development, Purdue Research Foundation, (765) 479-0807 (mobile), (765) 494-8572 (office), gwdeason@purdueresearchfoundation.org [available for media interviews by mobile phone from Thursday, Sept. 30 until Friday, Oct. 1].
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PHOTO CAPTION: A publication-quality photo is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/images/+2004/ssci-lab.jpg |
