Editor's note: Este artículo está traducido al español.
The importance of the Association of University Research Parks picking Las Vegas for its international conference at UNLV’s Harry Reid Research Technology Park can’t be understated.
It signals the city is transforming into an “innovation culture,” says Zach Miles, the interim vice president for economic development at UNLV. The three-day event earlier this month allowed UNLV to showcase its expanding influence in North America’s innovation economy.
“I think AURP, as we’ve been continuing to work with them, see this as one of those emerging markets — one of those tech parks that is kind of leading the way in Las Vegas,” said Miles, who is also the executive director of the UNLV Research Foundation, which manages the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park. “But also how it’s going to transform the ecosystem.”
Research parks are a physical community that provides programming and different opportunities for startup companies, students or other workforce training programs, said Vickie Palmer, CEO at Association of University Research Parks. They also bring in new, usually higher-paying jobs, new business and typically a growth in infrastructure, Palmer said.
With a university as the anchor of a research park, Palmer said, there may be startups coming from students or professors, corporations that want to be adjacent to the campus or internship opportunities for students.
“It’s really a pipeline for that training, for the students and others,” she said. “So that, really, this is an economic development at its core. It really is. You’re going to be having higher paid jobs, typically with these communities.”
To illustrate the significance of research and development in these parks, Palmer pointed to the growth of the Las Vegas Medical District and the type of life-changing research — cancer treatments, assistive medical devices — that can come from them.
“It’s not just the workforce and the economic development, but it’s really changing lives — in health or technology or whatever — for the better,” Palmer said.
Tours of the medical district, remarks by local community leaders and an awards program were all part of the activities at the conference Nov. 11-14. Attendees also had the opportunity to learn about UNLV, the Harry Reid park, and the community and economic development support within the community, Palmer said.
“I think this really is something very cool, and a litmus test for — we’re heading in the right direction,” Miles said. “We’re engaging with the right people.”
When Miles came on board in 2013, the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park was “still dirt,” he said. More than a decade later, it’s home to Black Fire Innovation — an accelerator for hospitality, gaming and entertainment.
The latter isn’t there to just keep turning the wheel on Las Vegas’ biggest industry, however. It’s about incorporating robots, artificial intelligence and “backbone industries” like energy, water and air to diversify the economy while also maintaining the Las Vegas Strip and hospitality in the valley.
Other major focus areas for innovation include biotech, health care, sports and entertainment, he said.
“What can we be doing that translates into innovations for you and me to make our lives better?” Miles said.
A research park like Harry Reid is a physical environment intended to drive collaboration, Miles said, and a structure for the university, high-tech industry and community to come together to talk about innovation and change.
“This is a very unique environment for that,” Miles said. “A different focus from, ‘Hey, we just really want money to come out of this,’ to ‘No, we want innovation. We want better communities. We want the high-tech industries that are going to sustain or or make our lifestyles better.’ ”
Association of University Research Parks is among the primary organizations for thought leaders in economic development and diversification efforts. Those individuals had the opportunity to engage with conference attendees from Las Vegas and elsewhere and help to redefine or accelerate what people like Miles have already been doing, he said.
“I think this conference will really continue to … accelerate what we’re doing, making those connections and really diversifying the economy here in Las Vegas,” Miles said prior to the conference.