As Corporate Sponsor, yet again, for AURP’s 2020 International Conference, we more than understand this year’s theme of “Changemakers: Leading Communities of Innovation in Uncertainty.” Indeed, it’s important to reflect on the peculiar challenges and opportunities for the innovation places where we all work, especially in these unprecedented and unpredictable times. Still, the question arises: How then, may we lead? Read more.

The $50 million Innovation and Research Park on the campus of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) secured its first occupant this month when Inspirotec, Inc. executed a five-year license agreement.

Inspirotec specializes in airborne allergen detection — using an air-sampling device for capturing and measuring various bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19. Read more.

A campus-wide testing program aimed at identifying asymptomatic Covid-19 community members has helped limit daily case counts to single digits at Georgia Tech. Deploying a saliva-based program developed by Georgia Tech’s own researchers, more than 75,000 tests have been administered since it was launched last August.

Georgia Tech leaders developed a saliva-based test instead of using nasal swabs for a practical reason: they didn’t think the campus community would undergo nasal testing at the rate that would be necessary for the surveillance program to succeed. Read more.

#AURPWEEK 2020 Sponsor: Maryland: The nexus of the fight against COVID-19: The bio industry’s ability to pivot requires an ecosystem with all the elements for rapid innovation and collaboration. See how Maryland’s life sciences ecosystem puts the state's companies and universities in the nexus of the fight against COVID-19. Learn more.

Penn State Harrisburg is soliciting proposals for the design and execution of a planning process to establish a shared vision to guide the development of a potential public-private research and business park.

The proposed park would be located on the Penn State Harrisburg campus, modeled on the successful Innovation Park on the Penn State in State College, PA.

For more information about the RFP, contact Todd Camp, Director of Business Services, Penn State Harrisburg, at: thc102@psu.edu. The deadline for submission of proposals is November 30, 2020.

The US EDA has launched its FY 2020 Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology (SPRINT) Challenge. EDA is seeking applications from eligible organizations working to rapidly address the economic, health and safety risks caused by the coronavirus pandemic through entrepreneurship and innovation.

For eligibility to participate in this $25 million funding opportunity, projects must address concerns related to the pandemic; cost share is reduced from 50% to 20%; and

activities need to be "consistent" with a regional comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS).

EDA, the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and SSTI will host a webinar explaining the SPRINT Challenge, Oct. 28 at 2:00pm EDT. Register here.

OpportunityDb's Jimmy Atkinson recently interviewed AURP CEO Brian Darmody on the topic of "Can university research parks, incubators, and accelerators catalyze innovation in Opportunity Zones?"

Brian discusses how some AURP members are leveraging the Opportunity Zone incentive to highlight their innovation campus assets, plus talks about the benefits of partnering with a university research park or innovation campus located in an Opportunity Zone. Listen here.

Check out the AURP Career Center to discover your next career opportunity:

SUBMIT YOUR STORY FOR A FUTURE PARK POST!

Would you like to showcase your Community of Innovation, tenant or university activities in an upcoming AURP Park Post? We want to hear your stories so we can share them with the greater AURP community. Email us today!

AURP Community is 'IN ACTION'!

Driving new engagement initiatives, educating municipalities and leaders on safety precautions, and driving innovation in resolve of the Covid-19 pandemic.