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November 7, 2005 Purdue increases leadership role with Association of University Research Parks
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., and RESTON, Va. - The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) Board of Directors has elected Gregory W. Deason, director of West Lafayette-based Purdue Research Park, to the position of AURP treasurer. AURP represents leaders of 195 of the nation's university-affiliated research facilities. Deason's executive position was ratified on Nov. 4 during the organization's annual conference in Raleigh, N.C. As treasurer for AURP, Deason will serve one year and be responsible for overseeing its cash flow, budgets and financial planning. Since early 2004, Deason has served on the 15-member board, which is comprised of representatives from the nation's other leading research parks, including Centennial Campus at North Carolina State, Georgia Tech's Technology Enterprise Park, Innovation Park at Penn State, University Research Park at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Sandia Science and Technology Park in New Mexico. "It is a great honor to see the members of the Association of University Research Parks put their faith in Purdue Research Park, and in me, to provide leadership in the coming year," said Deason, who also serves as vice president - real estate/research park development for Purdue Research Foundation, the parent organization of Purdue Research Park. "AURP has a very talented board of directors. All have dedicated their best efforts to advance the organization and the research park industry." At the same conference, AURP recognized the Purdue Research Park for Excellence in Technology Transfer, an award presented annually to the member park that best demonstrates success in the commercialization of university research through existing businesses or startup companies in a business incubation environment. To date, the Purdue Research Foundation - the park's parent organization - has licensed technology to 49 startup companies, of which 33 are Indiana firms, with 19 resident in Purdue Research Park. The diverse licensed technologies treat cancer, detect chemical weapons, stymie computer hackers, monitor blood pressure of premature babies and produce new apple and turfgrass varieties. "Recently, we've introduced a couple of strategies for keeping innovation here in Indiana, including our new BusinessMaker Process, which further accelerates the commercialization of Purdue technologies, and our Technology Road Shows - previously unheard of in the world of technology commercialization - that take Purdue technologies on the road to entrepreneurs and angel investors across Indiana," said Joseph B. Hornett, the foundation's senior vice president, treasurer and COO. Last year, AURP recognized Purdue Research Park with the 2004 Research/Science Park Company of the Year Award of Excellence, the organization's top honor for business incubation programming. The 2005 honoree for top research park is the Newark-based Delaware Technology Park this is affiliated with the University of Delaware. AURP promotes the development and operations of research parks that foster innovation, commercialization and economic competitiveness in the global economy by supporting collaboration among universities, industry and government. Writer: Jeanine Phipps, media contact, (765) 494-0748, jsphipps@prf.org |
