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Nigel Reuel Appointed to Lead Deep Tech Venture Creation at Iowa State University College of Engineering Nigel Reuel has been named professor in charge of deep technology venture creation for the Iowa State University College of Engineering with a focus on entrepreneurial development for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty. Read more.	BlueHalo at SS&TP Achieves Major Breakthrough in Space-Based Laser Communication BlueHalo (recipient of AURP's 2024 Innovation Award) has reached a major milestone in space-based laser communication tech. Operating from its facility at Sandia Science & Technology Park, the company successfully demonstrated its two-terminal, long-haul, multi-orbit laser communication system. Read more.
University of Delaware Receives Historic $71.5M Gift for Business School Expansion The University of Delaware (host of AURP's 2023 International Conference) has received a historic $71.5 million donation from alumni Robert L. Siegfried, Jr. and Kathleen Marie (Horgan) Siegfried, along with The Siegfried Group, LLP, to fund the construction of a new facility at the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. Read more.	University of Arizona Center for Innovation Generates $664.8M Economic Impact (2021-2023) The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), part of Tech Parks Arizona in the Office of Research, Innovation & Impact, had an economic output of $664.8 million between 2021 and 2023. In this time period, 41% of UACI startups involved U of A alumni, graduate students or technology that originated from university research. Read more.
Kevin Howell Appointed 15th Chancellor of NC State Kevin Howell has been appointed the 15th chancellor of North Carolina State University (home of its Centennial Campus), becoming the institution's first Black chancellor. Howell succeeds Chancellor Randy Woodson (recipient of AURP's 2023 Leadership Award). Read more.	Idaho National Laboratory and Boise State University to Partner in Advanced Research Idaho National Laboratory and Boise State University have signed a five-year agreement to enhance collaborative research efforts in advanced materials and manufacturing for extreme environments. Read more.
WPI Sets New Research Funding Records, Achieves R1 Status Worcester Polytechnic Institute achieved record-breaking research performance in 2024, spending $71.6 million on R&D activities (up 8% from the previous year) and securing $60 million in new research awards. The university launched 234 multiyear projects and was recently designated as an R1 institution. Read more.	Voyager Technologies Welcomes Biotech Firm to Space Research Science Park at Ohio State Voyager Technologies has announced that South Korea-based Space LiinTech will join the George Washington Carver Science Park at Ohio State, which is described as the world's first science park dedicated to in-space research and manufacturing. As a tenant, Space LiinTech will access various services, technical resources and research facilities. Read more.
Wichita State Secures $1M to Launch Shocker Fly Lab for UAV Research Wichita State has received $1 million kicking off fundraising for the Shocker Fly Lab, an enclosed flight space to research, design and test unmanned aerial vehicles. The new lab will be on the Innovation Campus near the Hub for Advanced Materials Research and the John Bardo Center. The Shocker Fly Lab will support industry-sponsored student competitions and faculty research in drone technology. Read more.	Research Universities: The Hidden Engine Behind Innovation & Economic Growth At the Ion District innovation hub in Houston, Rice University President Reginald DesRoches and Arizona State University President Michael Crow discussed the pivotal role of research universities in driving innovation. They emphasized that many tech advancements, such as those found in smartphones, stem from often unrecognized research conducted by academic institutions. Read more.
Duke University's Scott Selig, Associate Vice President for Capital Assets and Real Estate, to Retire Duke University's Scott Selig, Associate Vice President for Capital Assets and Real Estate, will retire in August 2025 after nearly 25 years of leadership. Since 2001, Selig has spearheaded Duke's off-campus real estate strategy, playing anchor roles in the creation of the Durham Innovation District and American Tobacco Campus. Read more.	UC Davis Aggie Square Projected to Contribute $500 million in Regional Economic Output UC Davis has announced an annual economic impact of $13.18 billion statewide, with $9.57 billion benefiting the Sacramento metropolitan area, supporting 68,300 jobs across California and 61,700 within the region. The forthcoming UC Davis Aggie Square innovation district is projected to contribute an additional $500 million in regional economic output. Read more.

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