University of Arizona Science and Technology Park, Tuscon
Arizona is the fastest growing state in the nation and Tucson and its surrounding areas continue to attract people to its beautiful, mountainous region. According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, Tucson will continue to outpace the intermountain region in population growth, having seen consistent increases in percentage change since 1994. Also, according to Torto-Wheaton Research, a national econometric firm, Tucson will rank fourth out of fifty-four major markets in total employment growth over the next ten years.
Tucson has emerged as a 21st century international business city. More than 1,000 high tech firms are located in metropolitan Tucson employing nearly 50,000 workers. Firms in the technology sectors of optics, biotechnology, aerospace, defense systems, environmental technology, nanotechnology, information technology and advanced materials &plastics generate an estimated $6 billion in revenue annually. Tucson's economy continues to expand rapidly thanks to a rich business infrastructure, an educated and diverse pool of experienced and talented workforce, well established supplier base, availability of commercial/industrial and office real estate, competitive cost structure and more. Other areas of "New Technology" employment growth include renewable energy, telemedicine and border technology.
The University of Arizona is integral to Tucson. It's the tenth largest, publicly-funded, research university in the United States. Along with its $500 million per year research enterprise, UA boasts a student body of approximately 38,000 and an administrative staff of 15,000 people. The university also features a many nationally ranked programs including Optical Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, Management Information Systems and Business.
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK
The University of Arizona Science and Technology Park (UASTP) provides a unique environment where education and industry combine to develop new technology and commercialize intellectual property in response to market needs and demand. Scientific knowledge is generated in the research laboratory and transferred to both rapidly growing start up companies as well as more mature well established companies. The common link between the types of firms seeking to develop and commercialize these new innovations is their focus on technology and new applications in a focused range of targeted market sectors.
The UASTP serves as an important component of the overall economic development strategy of southern Arizona by housing global companies like IBM, Raytheon, Citigroup and others. In addition, the UASTP is home to educational facilities serving high school students (Vail High School) as well as undergraduate students from the University of Arizona South, extending the academic experience through University of Arizona laboratory facilities.
The UASTP occupies 1,345 acres adjacent to Interstate 10 between Kolb Rd. and Rita Rd. Currently there are approximately 345 acres developed which comprises 2 million square feet of space, with the remaining 1,000 acres designated for expansion. Currently, all services are provided on site, with the delivery mechanism being a central "spine" which distributes electric power, communications cable, plumbing for heating and cooling, and domestic and deionized water to all buildings within the developed part of UASTP.
For new development outside the currently developed project area, public utilities are readily available for extension to newly constructed facilities:
- The University's new bioscience park will provide a separate facility designed especially for companies working in biosciences, biotechnology, life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Its sophisticated, high technology biosciences facilities will be integrated into a multi-use development, including a hotel and conference center, retail and residential development.
- The Arizona Center for Innovation is a high tech incubator promoting the development of high technology companies in Southern Arizona through a disciplined program of business development.
- The Innovation Center focuses on companies in six technology areas: aerospace, advanced composites and materials, information technology, environmental technology, life sciences and optics/photonics.
- Innovation Center clients move through a disciplined, structured program of business development. Each company receives assistance in preparing a business plan, developing products and services, securing financing, and executing a marketing program.
- The Innovation Center is modeled to identify and capture commercially viable technology early in the technology development process.
TUCSON`S INDUSTRY STRENGTHS
Aerospace & Defense:
Tucson's clear blue skies and dry climate have been attracting aerospace related attention since the early 1900s. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was founded in 1925 and expanded significantly after WWII. Hughes Aircraft arrived in Tucson in 1951, helping to spur post-war development. Hughes in now called Raytheon Missile Systems.
Aerospace Industry Highlights in Tucson and Southern Arizona
- 200 local companies
- 20,000-30,000 employees
- $ 5-6 billion in revenues
(source: Southern Arizona Tech Council 2003).
Major Employers:
- Raytheon Missile Systems (10,756 employees-Tucson's largest employer)
- Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (8,233)
- Honeywell Aerospace (740)
- Evergreen Air Center (606)
- Bombardier Aerospace (600)
- Northrop Grumman (450-in Sierra Vista)
- Global Aircraft Solutions (253)
- Universal Avionics Systems (240)
- Sargent Controls & Aerospace (239)(source: Star 200 2006).
Education:
- The University of Arizona offers an outstanding engineering program, including aerospace, leading to bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees (756 graduates in 2004-2005)
- Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University offers several degrees at its Davis-Monthan AFB Campus (2,000 plus students in 2005).
- Pima Community College offers several aviation technology degrees and certificates, including Aircraft Airframe and Powerplant courses, along with a customized training program that can fit any employer's requirements.
BIOINDUSTRY
Southern Arizona's bioindustry is home to over 70 biotech companies engaged in sectors such as medical devices, pharmaceutical R&D, medical imaging, industrial products, and biomaterials. Over half of these firms are involved with product development and/or manufacturing, about 40 percent perform laboratory research and about 30 percent are involved in clinical testing programs.
In 2003, the State of Arizona began implementing the Arizona Biosciences Roadmap, a 10-year strategic plan for Arizona to invest in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy. The mission of this action plan is for Arizona to become a leading southwestern state in selected biosciences, built around world-class research, clinical excellence, a growing base of cutting-edge enterprises, and supporting firms and organizations. A Southern Arizona Biosciences Roadmap is currently being developed that aligns with the state's Roadmap.
Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) was launched in the spring of 2006 by the three statewide CEO groups: Flagstaff 40, Greater Phoenix Leadership, and Southern Arizona Leadership Council in an effort to build on the pioneering work done by the Flinn Foundation and their consultants, the Battelle Memorial Institute, in creating the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap. SFAz's organization includes a nationally recognized board of directors and biosciences expert Bill Harris as Executive Director, along with $35 million in state funding.
In Southern Arizona there is a vibrant entrepreneurial environment for launching and incubating early-stage technology companies. Innovation is evident at the Critical Path Institute (C-Path) and BIO5, two bioscience entities utilizing revolutionary collaboration models.
Through a prestigious partnership among the Food and Drug Administration, the University of Arizona, and SRI International, the C-Path Institute fosters and conducts research and educational programs that will enable the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry to accelerate the development of safe, innovative new drugs.
BIO5 is a bioresearch institute combining scientists from five disciplines -- agriculture, medicine, pharmacy, basic science, and engineering -- to create partnerships that can solve complex biological issues.
Both C-Path and BIO5 fuel economic development by facilitating the commercialization of new products.
Biotechnology Industry Highlights in Tucson and Southern Arizona:
- 70 local companies
- 2,000 employees (nonhospital)
- 112 nonhospital bioscience establishments
- 21.9% increase in region's nonhospital bio employment, 2001-2004
- $ 40,004, annual average biosciences wage
- $ 6 billion in revenues
(source: Bioindustry Organization of Southern Arizona Southern Arizona High-Tech Connection, 2006 and Arizona Daily Star 2006).
Major Employers:
- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (600+)
- Sebra (75)
- Byron Medical (50)
- Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics (48)
- Protein Technologies, Inc. (22)
- ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc. (19)
- HTG (13)
(source: Book of List, 2006).
Education:
- The University of Arizona has 22 Life Science related degree programs. The Arizona Health Science Center, Sarver Heart Center, Arizona Respiratory Center and Arizona Cancer Center are known worldwide for research productivity and clinical trials management.
- The University of Arizona Colleges of Agriculture, Science, and Engineering & Mines produced 157 Ph.D., 410 M.S. and 1517 B.S. graduates in 2004-2005.
- The University of Arizona's College of Science, a national leader in Applied Bioscience programs, now offers a Master's Degree in Applied Bioscience.
- Pima Community College offers applied degree programs in bioscience topics.
Other Facts:
- Tucson's largest international company, Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., has more than 400 of its 600+ employees located in Tucson.
- SEBRA Engineering and Research Associates, which produces specialty catheters and blood processing equipment, is also headquartered in Tucson.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
Environmental Technology includes any products or processes that can eliminate, prevent, reduce, or remedy negative human impact on the environment. These include processes that: Produce less waste, consume fewer resources and highlight efficiency.
The cluster can be divided into three main branches:
- services,
- equipment and resources.
A third of the Arizona companies in the cluster are based in Tucson.
Environmental Technology Industry Highlights in Tucson and Southern Arizona:
- 1,211 companies*
- 14,873employees*
- $2.2 billion in revenues*
(*Arizona's Environmental Technology Industry, local figures not available)
(source: Environmental Business International Inc., 2001).
Major Employers:
- URS Corporation (250)
- Southwest Hazard Control (175)
- Engineering & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (86)
- WestLand Resources Inc. (71)
- Western Technologies (42)
(source: Book of List, 2006).
Education:
- Several UA Academic Departments offer undergraduate and graduate programs related to environmental technology. The College of Civil Engineering and the Department of GGGNciences offer an environmental specialization in several programs. Also, there are several bachelors in science related to this field, such as Environmental Sciences and Environmental & Water Resource Economics.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The IT industry represents companies connected to computers, semiconductors, teleservices, office products, software, Internet/online services, Web design, ecommerce, telecommunications, systems integration and related professional services. A Teleservices cluster existed independently in Southern Arizona for several years, but merged with the Information Technology Cluster in 2000.
IT Industry Highlights in Tucson and Southern Arizona
- 1,200 local companies*
- 50,000 employees*
- $4 billion in revenues*
(* Arizona IT Industry, local figures not available)
(source: Aerospace, Manufacturing & Information Technology Cluster).
Major Employers:
- IBM Storage Technology Division (1800)
- CitiCards (1,500)
- Afni (1,377)
- Intuit (1,300)
- Teletech (1,050)
- APAC (700)
- Texas Instruments (650)
- Convergys (600)
- Misys Healthcare Systems (497)
- Intelligent Instrumentation (85)
Education:
- The University of Arizona's Management Information Systems graduate program
- Computer Science Department
OPTICS
Tucson is often referred to as "Optics Valley" because of its high concentration of highly visible optics-related companies and the large talent pool that has located here.
Benchmark data collected in 2001 suggests that while cluster membership is predominantly from small companies, optics revenue in Tucson alone may account for over $600 million and more than 1400 jobs. The optics cluster encompass around 200 entities, represents a broad range of products and services, including optical design and engineering, fiber optic components for telecommunications, lasers and semiconductors, metrology instrumentation, high volume precision plastic optics, telescopes, and optical coatings/thin films.
Proximity to the Mexican border and an active relationship with Canada's optics leaders have added to Southern Arizona's market position.
Optics Industry Highlights in Tucson and Southern Arizona:
- 150 local companies
- 4,573 employees in Pima County
- $650 million in revenues
(source: Arizona Optics Industry Association, 2006, Arizona Daily Star, 2006).
Major Employers:
- Spectra-Physics Semiconductor Lasers (225)
- ADE Phase Shift (120)
- Veeco Metrology Group (110)
- Photometrics (100)
- Arete Associates (48)
- Breault Research Organization (45)
- Dataforth Corp. (45)
(source: Book of List, 2006).
Education:
- The University of Arizona offers through the College of Optical Science BS, MS,
- Around 30 percent of the optics workforce is comprised of engineers. Within 100 kilometers of Tucson, there are more square centimeters of astronomical glass pointed out toward the universe -- including the recent $ 80 million Mount Graham International Observatory -- than at any other location on earth.
- The vast data storage capacity of today's high-density optical disk drives is possible because of technologies pioneered in Optics Valley.
- Pima County accounts for about 60 percent of state jobs in optics.
PLASTICS AND ADVANCED COMPOSITE MATERIALS
The Plastics and Advanced Composite Materials Industry offers products made for uses including automotive, electrical, telecommunications, biomedical, packaging, construction and consumer durables. The industry products manufactured in Tucson include film, sheets, rods, tubes, pipes and foam.
The industry also offers processing methods including injection molding, blow molding and extrusion. Common end-use industries include automotive, electrical, telecommunications, bio-medical, packaging, construction and consumer durables.
Thirty-seven percent of plastics revenues are from international sales, primarily to maquiladora factories operating in Mexico.
Plastics & Advanced Composite Materials Industry Highlights in Tucson and Southern Arizona:
- 35 local companies
- 982 employees
- 23,206,000 annual payroll
- $123,746,000 value of shipments for 2002.
(source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2004, NAICS 326, plastic and rubber products manufacturing, 2002 Economic Census, Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area).
Major Employers:
- Catalina Tool & Mold
- SEBRA (85)
- R.E Darling Co. Inc. (100)
- Poly Print Inc. (30)
- Tucson Industrial Plastics (10).
Education:
- The Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Arizona has attracted a wide group of world class individuals to its faculty and has developed a pioneering and wide-ranging curriculum at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The Department offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. More than 49 courses at all levels are offered.
- The department has research programs in areas as diverse as high tech ceramics, non-linear optical materials, sol-gel and biomemetic processing, and polymers in electronic packaging.
In addition to the courses offered at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College offers many pre-engineering courses for direct transfer to the University of Arizona. Other courses are also offered in machine tool technology for use in tool and dye making for the injection molding industries.
MANUFACTURING
About 9 percent of the people in the Tucson Metropolitan area work in the manufacturing sector. About one in six people in the Tucson Metropolitan area works in "goods-producing'' industries, including manufacturing, mining and construction. Manufacturing is important because the jobs pay higher than average wages and manufacturers provide an export-based product that brings wealth back into the community.
The Sonoran region of Mexico has a high concentration of maquiladoras that provide an attractive customer base for Tucson area companies.
Manufacturing Sector Highlights in Tucson and Southern Arizona:
- 725 local companies
- 32,900 employees
- $1,515,010,000 in annual payroll
(source: Arizona Workforce Informer, 2006 Star 200, County Business Patterns, 2003)
Major Employers:
- Raytheon Missile Systems (10,756)
- International Business Machines Corp. (1,800)
- Honeywell Aerospace (740)
- Bombardier Aerospace (890)
- Texas Instruments (650)
- Ventana Medical Systems Inc. (498)
- Misys Health Care Systems (497)
(source: Star 200 2006).
Education:
- The UA College of Engineering plays a pivotal role in providing the research, technology, and engineering expertise necessary for growth and diversity in the economy. Graduates of the college are the entrepreneurs developing high-tech companies, creating jobs, and improving quality of life.
INCUBATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
As part of the entrepreneurship process, the Arizona Center for Innovation provides essential support services for start-up companies emerging from university environments or from within the creative population of metropolitan Tucson.
The following services allow our clients to focus on the creation of the business venture:
Business Development Assistance:
- Business plan
- Product development
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Investor development
Administrative Support:
- On-site management staff
- Full-time office manager/receptionist
- High speed Internet access
- State-of-the-art S8300-Avaya telephone system (digital and analog, video conferencing)
- Copier/fax services
- Presentation equipment (projector, laptop computer).
Additional Business Services:
- Quarterly Meeting with Advisory Committee to review business development milestones
- Assistance with web page development (on-site web development team)
- Quarterly review of financial records
- UA student incubator
- On campus office (request in progress)
Business Consultation:
- 3 hours of pro-bono consultation to each client
- 50% reduction in professional service charges during the first 12 months of residency
- Opportunity for consultant to develop client base
Advisory Committee:
- Experienced venture capitalists, successful entrepreneurs, and professional economic developers
- Meets four times a year to review the business development milestones of the clients and to assess and evaluate performance of the Innovation Center.
Innovation Center Facilities /Laboratory facilities:
- 12,500 square feet of office and laboratory space, including 4500 square feet of office space (10 company offices) and 8000 square feet of chemistry/wet lab and laser lab space.
- Conference room
- Boardroom
- Storage
- Each client company has one private office.
RESEARCH & INNOVATION - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
The University of Arizona opened its doors in 1891 as Arizona's land-grant public university. Since the University's inception, we have had as a core component of our mission to share our discoveries with the citizens of Arizona. Through agricultural extension services, programs of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy group, telemedicine, and technology transfer and business incubation services, to name just a few of our outreach activities, we act as an important resource, connecting our work with public needs to improve the lives of our citizens.
Today The University of Arizona is Arizona's premier research university with nearly $ 500 million in research awards annually. Research and discovery are carried out in all of our 15 academic Colleges and several Schools, as well as in our many interdisciplinary centers, including the Arizona Research Laboratories, BIO5 Institute for Collaborative BioResearch, Arizona Cancer Center, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Drachman Center for Land and Regional Development Studies, Sarver Heart Center, Science and Mathematics Education Center, Steele Children's Research Center, and Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy.
Ranked in the top tier of research universities nationwide, the University of Arizona is Arizona's only member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, an association of 62 North American universities distinguished by the breadth and quality of their programs in research and graduate education.
Our research capabilities attract substantial investment from outside sources including grants, contracts, sponsored projects, and gifts from federal, state, and private sources. Those resources, in turn, are spent on salaries, goods, and services. In the most recent year analyzed, FY04, the economic impact of the University included the creation of 41,300 jobs, $ 1.2 billion in earnings, and a total dollar impact on the state's economy of $ 2.3 billion. On the basis of our research expenditures in FY03, the National Science Foundation ranked us 14th among U.S. public universities, and 22nd among all U.S. universities in research funding.
The challenge and excitement of research and innovation are integral to our undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Our faculty offer unparalleled opportunities for research at all levels. The Graduate College provides central administrative support for all of the graduate programs in the University.
In FY05, support for graduate students working on sponsored research projects was as follows:
Appointed Graduate Students $ 15,290,351
Hourly Student Payroll $ 5,833,087
Stipends, Fees $ 2,752,109
TOTAL $ 23,875,547
Among the colleges, the College of Science, with major research programs in Lunar & Planetary sciences and Astronomy, earned the greatest single share of outside funding. Also bringing in a large amount of funding was the College of Medicine, with its many fine programs in such areas as cancer research, infectious diseases, and community medicine. Next in the size of their research portfolios were the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences and the College of Engineering. Other significant support was spread among the remaining colleges, including the colleges of Optical Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Pharmacy, Education, Nursing, and Management.
As in previous years, the federal government continued in FY05 to be the main source for University sponsored projects, while industrial sponsors, foundations, and private contributions continued to play very significant roles. Among the federal sponsors, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided the largest single share, followed by NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Agriculture.
LABOR MARKET
Tucson continues to grow at nearly 20,000 residents each year. Population influx serves to continually supplement the labor pool providing a readily available workforce to Tucson's companies. During each of the last three years, Tucson's labor pool has grown by over 2% while the national growth has been below 1% throughout the same time period.
The skilled labor force mainly stems from the educational and training institutions in Greater Tucson. The University of Arizona (over 37,000 students) and Pima Community College (over 82,000 students) combined provide an impressive supply of skilled workers. According to the University of Arizona, the highest concentration of undergraduates is between the ages of 18-21, while the highest concentration of graduate students is between the ages of 23-26. Pima Community College reports that the majority of students fall within the 20-29 year old age range. In addition, high schools provide an important base of labor as these new workers enter Tucson's work force. Graduates of vocational and technical schools such as ITT Technical Institute and the Southern Arizona Institute of Advanced Technology continually provide a steady flow of trained workers into the labor force.
There are a significant number of defense-related (Raytheon, Honeywell) as well as high-technology (Texas Instruments, IBM) companies in the Tucson area. In addition, the region's military bases significantly contribute to greater Tucson's labor pool. For example, approximately 6,000 military and 1,700 civilian workers are employed in Davis Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB) operations. The average enlisted person is 30 years old and approximately 13,000 military retirees reside in the Tucson area.
Spouses and their dependents represent a labor pool that can be accessed through the DMAFB Family Support Unit in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Economic Security's Job Service Bank.
Source: www.dm.af.mil/default.htm
Sierra Vista/Ft. Huachuca (60 miles southeast) employs a large number of highly skilled electronics workers. The new economy makes everyone, employed or unemployed, a job seeker. Therefore, new career opportunities attract special and overwhelming interest.
WORKFORCE TRAINING
The Arizona Department of Economic Security's Job Service Bank is a critical tool in the recruitment of employees for local businesses. Unlike many other similar programs elsewhere in the United States, it successfully assists new and existing employers in enlisting the talent necessary to begin or expand operations in Tucson. This service includes management of applicant traffic, application completion and initial screening.
Pima County One Stop Career Center provides employment and training services to the community. It provides easy access to a range of private, public, and non-profit partners who have expertise regarding employment services. The Center offers employment programs which include the Regional Re-employment Center. Eligible workers will receive job training programs and career development assistance from career counselors and re-employment specialists.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA INSTITUE OF ADVANCED TRAINING
The Southern Arizona Institute of Advanced Training (SAIAT) was incorporated in 2000 for the purpose of providing fast, responsive and customized technical training for existing and prospective Southern Arizona employers.
The main goals of the program are:
- Provide immediate, targeted workforce training in response to employer requirements.
- Serve unemployed and underemployed workers by supplying the technical training necessary to move them into high technology employment.
- Broker the technical training needs of prospective area employers among numerous local providers.
SAIAT's Workforce Development Program prepares trainees for direct employment in the area of electronics, optics, plastics and telecommunications. Its Corporate Training Program covers topics including customer service, ISO 9000, lean manufacturing and project management. SAIAT also offers a number of courses in Information Technology Program, including CAD, database, operating system and web design and management.
Source: www.saiat.org
JACME2T (Joint Arizona Consortium Manufacturing Engineering Education for Tomorrow)
JACME2T provides affordable and accessible career-long learning for engineers and technical professionals by making use of innovative and appropriate means of design, development, and delivery of curriculum and also develops and expands networks and partnerships with industries, universities and other related groups.
JACME2T was founded to:
- Improve the performance of the engineering work force in manufacturing operations.
- Prepare practicing engineers for career redirection due to defense conversion activities of their employers.
- Create a new system of graduate engineering education which is simultaneously industry-driven and of appropriate academic quality and acceptance so as to provide a national role model for possible use in any location significantly impacted by defense conversion.
- Expand our instructional resource base by directly involving engineers in industry in both curriculum development and program instruction.
- Devise methods to extend the impact of these programs nationally through various electronic networks and other companies and organizations.
Source: www.east.asu.edu/jacmet/
WORKFORCE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Pima Community College's (PCC) workforce and business development programs can help businesses reach the next level.
PCC's Workforce and Business Development Division includes:
Center for Business Solutions (CBS): The Center for Business Solutions, formerly known as Business and Industry Training, was established in 1999.
The CBS assists businesses to optimize performance through:
Performance | Economic | Professional |
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Small Business Development Center (SBDC): SBDC provides businesses with high-impact consulting and training services which address every stage of business from start-up to developing and growing an existing business. The SBDC assist business owners and top management teams to succeed.
Center for Training and Development (CTD): CTD offers certification programs in the areas of Business and Office, Child Care Assistant, Food Service, Health Occupations, Material Handling, Truck Driver Training, and Basic Skills.
Source: http://cc.pima.edu/dept/cbs/business/
Note: Industry Sector and Workforce/Labor information courtesy of Tucson Regional Economic Opportunties (TREO www.treoaz.org)
MOST IMPORTANT SERVICES
- Euro Office Basic Service (Category 1, 2 or 3)
- Services to support SME within their internationalization activities
- Consulting services
- Etc.
INTERNATIONALIZATION PROGRAM IN TUCSON
Global Advantage is a preferred network of interconnected international regions that are committed partnership links economies, communities, businesses, research institutions and capital networks in order to enhance global trade and economic development.
Global Advantage facilitates and promotes region to region R&D and strategic economic alliances between member cities and key business centers worldwide through universities and research parks. Partner cities will serve as a portal for companies, universities and research institutions to access the knowledge and expertise local and worldwide network of business contacts who can advise subjects ranging from market intelligence and licensing through to technology transfer and finding partners or co-operative product marketing agreements, industry networking and more. www.globaladvantagenet.com
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION FOR INTERNATIONAL FIRMS
For firms interested in entry to U.S. markets, the Global Advantage program of the University of Arizona will offer the use of a private, furnished business development office located at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park in Tucson, Arizona.
The office package is offered for a maximum of 30 calendar day per year (1 use per company) and includes:
- One extension and integrated voice mail box
- One full-featured speaker phone set
- Incoming fax number and service
- Prestigious business address w/ one in-center mail box/Includes handling of mail and deliveries
- High speed internet access (computer not provided)
- Reception are and receptionist to greet your clients/guests
- Kitchenette with refrigerator, coffee, tea & water
- Client service area with essential office services and equipment
- 24X7 building access and preferred parking (1 parking space per firm)
- Janitorial services, maintenance and utilities
- 4 Hrs. / month small conference room usage (more time may be available)
- Use of cafeteria and catering services at Research Park (note: fees will apply).
Additional services will include assistance in securing meetings with local industry experts for market overviews, industry networking and business development.
LINKS TO MOST IMPORTANT WEBSITES OF THE REGION
www.treoaz.org
Economic Development organization
www.tucsonchamber.org
Chamber of Commerce
www.globaladvantagenet.com
International Program