New center at UA tech park focuses on start-ups

Officials from the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park cut the ribbon in late January on the Center for Technology Commercialization. The new center will house early-stage companies, providing them resources and marketing assistance in the hopes that one will produce a breakthrough technology or become a corporate heavy-hitter, much as Raytheon did in the Tucson research park decades ago.

CTC companies are at similar stages in development, a confluence that is designed to promote cooperation and cross-resourcing among the young firms. Among the four current tenants is emerging biotech company Acenta, a provider of chemistry and technology services for life-sciences companies.

In a university press release, UA associate vice president of economic development Bruce Wright said that in the 10-year history of the research park, the creation of CTC signals a "new and refined focus on smaller, start-up companies that are developing new technology."

The UA Science and Technology Park is currently home to 30 firms, including three Fortune 500 companies, and boasts a regional economic impact of $1.9 billion per year.

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For more information:

"Tech park establishes technology commercialization center," UA news release, 01/18/2005

"New center at UA tech park will cultivate startups," Arizona Daily Star, 01/20/05

"UA Tech Park building dedicated," Inside Tucson Business, 01/24/05