View the National Press Club Slide Presentation (pdf format)

Hear Brian Darmody talk about The Power of Place on Federal News Radio

The Power of Place (pdf format)

The Power of Place calls for the creation of American Innovation Zones, which will include universities, research parks, federal labs and technology incubators. These Zones will directly support the technology competitiveness of the United States.

America's university research parks, technology incubators, federal labs and adjacent federal land (enhanced-use leases) are key national innovation assets. Many nations around the world are building substantial research parks. However, in the United States, this has been principally a state and local government role. We feel it is vitally important for the federal government to leverage support for research parks and related innovation assets. American competitiveness requires the reform of the barriers that prevent the full optimization of our facilities.

A strategy to cluster research and incubator facilities (along with housing and amenities) in innovation zones is an important aspect of our future U.S. technological and ecological competitiveness.

The Power of Place: A National Strategy for Building America's Communities of Innovation calls for specific legislative and policy reforms to encourage:

• Development into designated Communities of Innovation

• Inflow of financial and facility capital into these zones

• Cluster creation development

• Support for private companies and academic research within these Innovation Zones.

The Power of Place Advisory Committee includes a diverse group of individuals representing American competitiveness organizations, technology-led economic development organizations, technology incubators, technology commercialization, federal labs, universities and other sectors. The Advisory Committee includes:

The National Academies Dr. Charles W. Wessner, Director, Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship National Research Council	National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) Dinah Adkins, President & CEO
Council on Competitiveness Deborah L. Wince-Smith, President Samuel Leiken, Senior Director of Policy Studies	National Governor's Association Dr. Ray Scheppach, Executive Director Erin Lamos, State Technology Policy Analyst
Association of Defense Communities Michael A. Houlemard, Board President Executive Officer, Fort Ord Reuse Authority	Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable Susan Sauer Sloan, Director
National Association of Seed and Venture Funds Richard A. Bendis, Acting Chair Bendis Investment Group LLC, President & CEO	National Center for Smart Growth Research & Education Gerrit Knaap, Professor and Executive Director
State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) Dan Berglund, President & CEO	The University Financing Foundation (TUFF) Kevin Byrne, Chief Investment Officer
National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2) Tony Stanco, Executive Director

The Power of Place informs the incoming Presidential Administration and Congressional delegations of the importance of the built environment for innovation and will call for legislative initiatives. Brian Darmody, Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development of the University of Maryland, is spearheading The Power of Place initiative.