University research, science and technology park professionals will gather in Washington, D.C. this month to meet on high-tech economic development and innovation as a national strategy.

Innovation professionals will hear from Dr. Phillip Singerman, Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services of the National Institute of Standards and Technology who will discuss the Obama Administration’s innovation agenda.

“Innovation clusters are a critical component of the nation’s innovation strategy,” said AURP President Harold Strong. “AURP welcomes research park executives to join in a discussion on how university research parks can help create jobs, drive economic growth and remain competitive in the global market.”

Research park executives will also hear from Charles O. Holliday, Chairman of Bank of America, Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Human Genome Sciences, Dr. Moira Gunn, host of BioTech Nation and Dr. Charles F. M. Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industry Collaboration at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.

The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) BioParks 2011 conference will be held in Washington, D.C. June 25-26, 2011. University research, science and biotechnology park executives will convene prior to the BIO International Convention at the headquarters of the American Institute of Architects.

Registration for BioParks 2011 is available online at http://bioparks.aurp.net.

About AURP: The Association of University Research Parks is a professional association of university-related research and science parks. AURP’s mission is to foster innovation, commercialization and economic growth in a global economy through university, industry and government partnerships. For more information visit our Web site at www.aurp.net or contact Chelsea Simpson at chelseasimpson@aurp.net.