Economic Impact of University Research Parks


University research, science and technology parks are strong economic engines and contribute to the economic development of local communities, states, and nations. Below are studies that illustrate the economic impact of university research parks. 
The systematic development of linked Communities of Innovation greatly influences the economic health of regions, as shown in the reports below.  For more information on AURP and university research parks, contact AURP Headquarters. 

Archived Economic Impact Studies

The Beach at UNO 2023 Annual Report
In 2023, The Beach adeptly navigated a challenging office market, demonstrating resilience while maintaining an impressive occupancy rate consistently exceeding 90% throughout the year. This success, achieved in the face of ongoing market challenges, is highlighted by securing long-term leases with several large existing tenants. The Beach's capacity to both attract new tenants and retain existing ones remains rooted in its expanding public-private partnership with the University.

 

University City Science Center "Stories Behind Numbers" 2023 Impact Report
Some of the wins found in the University City Science Center's (UCSC) 2023 Impact report include: 68 startups supported, 295 student and adult learners engaged and 5,800 Venture Café Philadelphia attendees welcomed. UCSC helped startups gain funding despite the difficult market conditions, and introduced more Philadelphians to the world of STEM. In 2023 UCSC also celebrated 60 years of powering progress - building on that legacy for years to come.

RTP 2023 Community Impact Report
It has been a year of transformational growth for Research Triangle Park. By nurturing our university connections, reimagining corporate campuses, and investing in residential developments, we delivered on our promise to create a vibrant new downtown for RTP. The resounding success of Boxyard, Frontier and other inaugural downtown spaces has reaffirmed that unique mixed-use centers can not only survive, but thrive, in RTP. As the largest research campus in the country, we are making strategic investments to fully optimize our land resources and support the region’s rapidly growing population.

Wichita State Impact Report 2022
Wichita State University and WSU Tech are key drivers of economic growth, fueling job creation, fostering industry partnerships, and supporting local businesses — and the numbers prove it. According to the 2022 Economic Impact Study, WSU and WSU Tech’s total economic impact in Kansas in 2021 was $1.3 billion. The study, published recently by WSU’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research, used best practices laid out by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and Association of American Universities. WSU and WSU Tech’s impact on the Kansas economy is substantial and can be seen through a variety of metrics.

The Beach at the University of New Orleans 2022 Annual Report
On behalf of our board of directors and our staff, we are pleased to share the university of new orleans research and technology foundation's 2022 annual report. "To ensure we were optimally structured to pursue our new mission, we did some reorganizing that included a new innovation division and a new real estate partnership with Corporate Realty." Rebecca Conwell It is an exciting time to live in our city. When in doubt, look at the amount of investment planned for capital improvements and innovation among our academic community. Our economic development and academic partnerships have never been stronger, and we look forward to doing our part to make our beautiful New Orleans a place that grows and supports talent and attracts investment.

University City Science Center "Powering Progress" 2022 Impact Report
Powering progress is a multifaceted endeavor, requiring agility and a willingness to push beyond the status quo. Last year UCSC experimented, ran pilots and explored how the center's programs can work together in a way that’s greater than the sum of its parts. While many UCSC initiatives independently power progress and drive impact, the way in which those pieces fit together to support the ecosystem is where the center's true value lies.

Research Park at Florida Atlantic University 2022 Report to the Community
Startups located at the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University - home to technology companies and research-based organizations working to support the research and development activities of Florida Atlantic University - added 119 new jobs last year, bringing the total number of jobs within the park to almost 1,000, according to its new "2022 Report to the Community."

Purdue Research Foundation's FY2021-2022 Annual Report
Purdue Research Foundation continues to exceed milestones and establish new thresholds in its placemaking mission. Discovery Park District at Purdue is a giant leap in placemaking intentionally built for families to thrive, talent to grow, technologies to launch, and businesses to collaborate. Discovery Park District is a $1.2 billion, 400-acre mixed-use development just steps away from Purdue University. The district offers a tech city experience and quality of life without tech city cost of living.

JobsOhio "The Future is Ohio" 2021 Annual Report and 2022 Strategic Plan
JobsOhio’s four strategic initiatives — talent, sites, innovation, and inclusion — continue to help position Ohio in the minds of new and expanding businesses. JobsOhio’s 2021 initiatives created records of more than 29,000 new jobs, new payrolls of $1.6 billion, and new capital investment of $6.9 billion. Ohio’s economy as a whole prospered, gaining 99,000 private-sector jobs in 2021, more than any year since 1997. A record 197,010 businesses were formed in Ohio, up 15% from the previous year.

MaRS Discovery District: Meaningful Innovation - Impact Report (December 2021)
MaRS, co-host of AURP's 2022 International Conference, is North America’s largest urban innovation hub. The anchor of Canada’s tech ecosystem, MaRS helps Canada’s most promising tech companies grow and succeed. MaRS also convenes all members of the innovation economy to drive breakthrough discoveries, create jobs and make an impact by solving real problems for real people — in Canada and around the world.

USF Economic Impact Report 2021
This new impact report details the the University of South Florida’s (USF) role as a catalyst for growth across the state of Florida. In this report, the breadth and depth of USF’s economic impact can be seen in all aspects of the university’s operations — from the students it educates, to the faculty and professional staff it employs, to the talented professionals and entrepreneurs who power a modern innovation economy.

Economic Impact Assessment - Sandia Science & Technology Park
This report (June 2022) provides a historical overview of employment at the Sandia Science & Technology Park (SS&TP) and presents an estimate of the economic impact of the Park in 2020 and 2021 on the Mid-Region of New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque, and the balance of Bernalillo County. The results of this analysis indicate that the Park has provided substantial and continuing benefits to the economy of Albuquerque and the region.

University of Illinois Research Park Economic Impact Report 2021
The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a leading technology hub that cultivates startups and accelerates corporate innovation. The University of Illinois EDA University Center provided Economic Impact studies for university incubators in Illinois, including: Southern Illinois University – Carbondale: Research Park; Illinois Institute of Technology: University Technology Park; University of Illinois: Innovate Springfield; and the University of Illinois Research Park and EnterpriseWorks.

University of Wisconsin-Madison: Economic Impact 2021 + Innovation $20 Billion + $10 Billion
This 2021 report shows UW–Madison, UW-affiliated organizations and UW-related startups contribute $30.8 billion per year to the Wisconsin economy. This economic activity supports more than 232,000 jobs and generates $1 billion in state and local taxes. The combined economic impact of UW–Madison and its affiliated UW organizations is $20.8 billion per year, which supports more than 189,000 jobs and generates more than $718.6 million in state and local tax revenue.

University of Kentucky Economic Development Collaborative
Welcome to the 2021 Annual Report of the University of Kentucky's Economic Development Collaborative (EDC). As UK embarks on a new Strategic Plan, the EDC plays an important role in its implementation as noted throughout this report. The focus on the EDC's bold ideas and goals will strengthen Kentucky’s economy and improve the lives of its people.

2021 Community Impact Report
Research Triangle Park (NC) details its recent major milestones in its new RTP 2021 Community Impact Report, including the grand opening of Boxyard RTP; its growing community of innovators at Frontier RTP; and continued construction on the Hub RTP mixed-use development.

Tech Parks Arizona: An Economic Powerhouse (2019) BNMC 2018 Impact Report
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Economic Impact Report 2015 University of Illinois Research Park: 2018 Economic Impact Report
Incubating Impacts: The Economic Emergence of the Research Park at the University of Illinois Case Study Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) Building Community: 2016 Annual Report 
An Economic Catalyst for Greater Philadelphia The University of Arizona Tech Park Economic Impact Executive Summary 2015
University City Science Center 2014 Annual Review