State and Local Tech-based ED RoundUp

Dallas

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) has created an external advisory council to provide insight into research trends, entrepreneurial activities, government liaison and global outreach. The council, which is composed of members of academia and both the commercial and defense industries, is being asked to help administrators plan the future of the university's research, assist in maintaining a sense of direction and focus in present work research, and interact closely with UTD's internal research council. UTD has a legislatively mandated emphasis in the natural sciences and engineering and management sciences.



Greenville, South Carolina

An unidentified developer has purchased 132 acres near Interstate 85 to build a research park with a $40 million wind tunnel, according to the Associated Press. The park, pending approval by nearby Clemson University's board of trustees, would attract research funding for Clemson and would be geared to the motorsports and automotive industries. Serving as a facility for Clemson's motorsports engineering program, the park's wind tunnel would be used in automotive research to study the effects caused by air swirling around a moving vehicle.



Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System has promised $20 million to begin venture capital investments in downtown Lancaster, the Lancaster New Era recently reported. Part of a $100 million fund to bring small companies to an incubator, the commitment makes way for a proposed $10 million renovation of three floors in the former Lancaster Press building. Emerald Assets Management, a company overseeing the initiative, is expected to complete investment agreements that could place up to $50 million in the fund by the end of March. Emerald also is looking for assistance from the state's Department of Community and Economic Development to cover the renovation costs.



Roanoke, Virginia

The newly named Business Technology Park at Radford University awaits renovations to the 110,000-square-foot building in which it will be housed, according to the Roanoke Times & World News. Already home to the university's Small Business Assistance Center, the building has space for 10 tenants in offices measuring 4,000-5,000 sq. ft. each. Tenants will have access to the university's offices for international trade expertise, management and leadership development, and technology training, among other shared services. The park is being situated in the former Carilion Health System building on 78 acres of St. Albans Hospital property in Pulaski County.



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