Economic Impact of Research Parks in North America Exceeds $31 Billion; Association of University Research Parks Releases New Data
DATELINE: WASHINGTON March 16
WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Research parks in the United States and Canada directly employ more than 350,000 people and contribute more than $31 billion annually to the economies of the United States and Canada, according to new data compiled by the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) and released today during the annual AURP Washington Summit.
"This data underscores the scope and importance of work being done today in research parks across North America," said AURP President Austin Beggs. "Universities, industry and governments are collaborating on work that enables North America to compete in an increasingly global economy."
The AURP data shows that the estimated U.S. total employment enabled by research parks is over 712,000 jobs, with an additional 90,000 total jobs provided in Canada. The impact of the wages provided by these jobs is more than $31 billion annually to the North American economy.
"Our survey results demonstrate that research parks play a very significant role in the economies of North America," said AURP Program Director Eileen Walker, who compiled the survey data. "But going beyond the economic role that research parks play, there is also the fact that the science which is commercialized in research parks has the potential to solve many problems. Such innovations as new types of medicine, new technologies for energy savings, new ways to communicate and many other beneficial concepts are first developed in research parks," she added.
The AURP data was collected from research and science parks throughout the United States and Canada during 2006 via surveys, interviews and Internet sources.
The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) is an international trade association representing 350 members and associate members in the university research park industry. AURP's membership is comprised of planned and operating research parks around the world, as well as a variety of university, governmental, not-for-profit and private organizations interested in the development and operation of technology projects and programs. The AURP headquarters is located in Reston, VA, outside of Washington, DC. For more information about AURP, visit http://www.aurp.net/ .
CONTACT: William Drohan of the Association of University Research Parks,
+1-703-234-4088, info@aurp.net
Web site: http://www.aurp.net/
SOURCE Association of University Research Parks