{"id":105164,"date":"2015-10-14T15:00:29","date_gmt":"2015-10-14T19:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=105164"},"modified":"2015-11-05T11:18:23","modified_gmt":"2015-11-05T16:18:23","slug":"uconn-breaks-ground-for-new-technology-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2015\/10\/uconn-breaks-ground-for-new-technology-park\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn Breaks Ground for New Technology Park"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Groundbreaking<\/a>
University officials, state lawmakers, and industry representatives break ground for the Innovation Partnership Building, the inaugural structure in the new Tech Park, on Oct. 14. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Connecticut broke ground for its new Technology Park Wednesday, marking a new era of public-private research partnership at UConn that is intended to drive Connecticut innovation and competitiveness in the state, region, and beyond.<\/p>\n

State lawmakers and representatives from some of Connecticut\u2019s leading industries were on hand to celebrate the new Tech Park and the start of construction for the Park\u2019s inaugural structure, a 113,000-square-foot, multi-level facility known as the Innovation Partnership Building or IPB.<\/p>\n

\"President<\/a>
President Susan Herbst speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Provost<\/a>
Provost Mun Choi, right, introduces former State Senate President Pro Tempore Don Williams. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This anchor building will offer large, flexible laboratories and highly-specialized equipment not readily available to industry. Teams of world-class academic researchers, private industry scientists, and business entrepreneurs will work collaboratively within the facility to develop innovative new technologies in energy, electronics, materials science, additive manufacturing, microscopy, cybersecurity, and other fields.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis facility is an exciting development not only for UConn but for our entire state,\u201d UConn President Susan Herbst said. \u201cThe resources being built by UConn and our industry partners are helping to strengthen Connecticut\u2019s economic future by connecting leading industries with outstanding research facilities in Storrs, UConn Health in Farmington, and in New Haven.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
An artist’s rendering of the future Innovation Partnership Building to be located at the UConn Technology Park. The building\u00a0will offer large, flexible laboratories and highly-specialized equipment not readily available to industry. (Image courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Industry partners supporting the Tech Park initiative have committed more than $60 million in funding for advanced research partnerships at UConn. Those companies include FEI, United Technologies, Pratt & Whitney, Eversource Energy, GE, Comcast, and Fraunhofer USA.<\/p>\n

Along with the state\u2019s landmark investments in UConn through Bioscience Connecticut and its bold support for UConn\u2019s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines through Next Generation Connecticut (one of the most ambitious state investments in higher education and research in the nation), the Tech Park is expected to serve as an important engine for job creation and be a critical component in Connecticut\u2019s long-term economic growth.<\/p>\n

One of the top public universities in the country, UConn has seen research grants double in recent years and currently manages $250 million in research activity around the state. The Tech Park is expected to strengthen that base by attracting more world-class researchers, encouraging new business growth through technology commercialization, creating high-paying jobs, and drawing on the University\u2019s strong industry partnerships to leverage millions of new dollars in federal and private research funding.<\/p>\n

“The Innovation Partnership Building is the first step towards a fully occupied technology park that will help to create jobs and grow Connecticut’s economy by capitalizing on scientific discoveries and expertise at the University,\u201d said State Rep. Gregg Haddad (D-Mansfield). \u201cThis is a win for the University, a win for our community, and a win for the state.”<\/p>\n

Said UConn Provost Mun Choi: \u201cUConn has a proud history of supporting the state\u2019s economy through groundbreaking research, academic excellence, and strong industry-university partnerships. This Technology Park provides the intellectual and physical assets to support the development of groundbreaking new technologies that will define our future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Industry partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Rod<\/a>
Rod Powell, president of corporate citizenship at Eversource Energy, speaks at the groundbreaking event. Eversource Energy and UConn announced a new research partnership that will be one of six industry-sponsored centers in the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The newest anchor partner for the IPB is the Eversource Energy Center, a research lab dedicated to the development of advanced storm damage modeling technology to ensure the reliable delivery of power throughout Connecticut and New England. The Center, announced Wednesday, was made possible through a new research partnership involving UConn and Eversource, New England\u2019s largest energy delivery company. The Center is one of six industry-sponsored centers associated with the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Eversource Energy Center will directly fund research and cutting-edge technologies, giving our customers an even more efficient and reliable electric grid,\u201d said Eversource President of Corporate Citizenship Rod Powell. \u201cWe’re extremely fortunate to partner with a renowned institution like UConn and have our research center in their new Innovation Partnership Building. I look forward to the incredible ideas and revolutionary breakthroughs that are sure to come from this center.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the Eversource Energy Center, the Innovation Partnership Building\u2019s other expected anchor partners include:<\/p>\n