History
Tech Parks Arizona has deep roots within the University of Arizona community.
The office began life as the UA Office of Economic Development in 1987 with a broad regional economic development mission.
In 1994, the University of Arizona took the bold step of acquiring an industrial park from IBM and transforming it into a university research park to help commercialize UA-developed technologies.
The Park began actively recruiting companies and attracted its first major tenant, Microsoft, in 1996. Since that time, the Tech Park has contributed greatly to regional economic development and is one of the region’s largest employment centers.
In 2001, the Association of University Research Parks honored the UA Tech Park by naming it the top university research park in North America.
In 2003, UA Center for Innovation, a business incubator, was developed to accelerate technology commercialization, helping entrepreneurs transform their ideas into successful companies.
In more recent years, the Tech Park’s focus has turned to facilitate the testing, evaluation, and demonstration of new technologies through initiatives such as the Solar Zone and The Security Innovation Hub.
In 2007, through a creative financing model, the University acquired a second property closer to the main campus to develop a second research park.
In 2010, the Office of Economic Development was designated the Office of University Research Parks to reflect the University’s expanding emphasis on research parks.
In April 2013, UA President Ann Weaver Hart initiated Tech Launch Arizona to enhance the University of Arizona’s technology commercialization efforts. As part of that refocusing, the Office of University Research Parks was renamed Tech Parks Arizona and incorporated as a component of Tech Launch Arizona.
The fiscal year 2014 marked the best year to date for technology commercialization at the University of Arizona, and every year since 2014 Tech Launch Arizona has met or surpassed performance expectations for the key users in technology commercialization.
In 2017, UA President Robert Robbins took the helm and set a new vision for the University of Arizona of becoming the leading university in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Here are some important milestones for the University of Arizona’s research parks:
UA Tech Park: A History
1970s
1979
IBM creates the original structure, a state-of-the-art facility, and houses its Storage Systems Division on the site.
1990s
1994
The University of Arizona purchases the site from IBM. Campus Research Corporation is created to negotiate lease arrangements.
Major tenants IBM and Raytheon employ 1,200 people on-site.
1995
The University of Arizona begins park operations.
1996
Integrated Biomolecule Corporation, the Park’s first new tenant, begins operations at the Park.
Microsoft leases space at the Park.
1997
Microsoft sublets its space to Keane, Inc., whose Tucson operation was later purchased by Convergys.
UA purchases the leasehold on Building 9040.
Vail High School and Arizona International Campus begin offering classes on-site.
1998
The University completes the Tech Park’s inaugural Master Land Use Plan.
Economic impact study - Park houses 17 tenant companies which employ 4,173 of people, $28.8 million in tax revenue, $1.45 billion total dollar impact
1999
The University establishes on-site Park management offices.
NP Photonics – the Park’s first UA faculty-led company – begins operations.
Economic impact study - Park houses 21 tenant companies which employ 5,309 of people, $38.9 million in tax revenue, $1.87 billion total dollar impact reports that the Park houses
2000s
2001
The Park’s 1.89 million square feet of leasable space is almost filled.
Economic impact study - Park houses 31 tenant companies that employ 5,949 of people, $49 million in tax revenue, and has a $1.87 billion total dollar impact.
2002
The Park’s third economic impact study reports that the Park houses 31 tenant companies, is responsible for the creation of 12,495 jobs, generates $49 million in tax revenue, and has a $1.87 billion total dollar impact (based on FY 2000-01 data).
Tucson Technology Incubator closes.
2003
Building 9070, a 70,000-square-foot multi-tenant building, is completed.
UA Center for Innovation opens with 4,500 square feet of office space and 8,000 square feet of lab space.
2004
Citi becomes a major tenant and moves into Building 9060.
The Park publishes a revised Master Land Use Plan.
Economic impact study - Park houses 31 tenant companies that employ 6,226 of people, $43.7 million in tax revenue, $1.92 billion total dollar impact.
2005
The Arizona Board of Regent approves the Park’s Development Guidelines.
The Center for Technology Commercialization opens.
2006
UA South begins offering classes on-site.
2007
The University of Arizona acquires 54 acres of land at 36th Street and Kino Boulevard for the UA Tech Park and The Bridges
Economic impact study - Park houses 32 tenant companies which employ 6,175 of people, $63.9 million in tax revenue, $2.45 billion total dollar impact
2008
Economic impact study - Park houses 40 tenant companies which employ 6,938 of people, $66.9 million in tax revenue, $3.02 billion total dollar impact (data from CY 2008)
Pima Community College begins offering classes on-site.
2009
Vail K-12 Academy and High School starts construction of its new site.
Started water infrastructure improvements.
The Park adopts a 10-year business plan.
Arizona Board of Regents approves the Arizona Bioscience Park Master Land Use Plan at The Bridges.
UA receives a $4.7 million grant from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, for infrastructure improvements. Construction begins for the UA Tech Park at The Bridges.
Economic impact study - Park houses 40 tenant companies which employ 6,494 of people, $70.8 million in tax revenue, $2.67 billion total dollar impact
2010s
2010
Preliminary results for an economic impact study report that the Park houses 37 tenants, is responsible for the creation of 14,686 jobs, generated $77.3 million in tax revenues, and had a $2.97 billion total dollar impact (based on CY 2008 data).
Vail expands and develops new school on-site, Vail Academy and High School classes begin.
Development begins for the Solar Zone at the UA Tech Park.
2011
The Master Water System Construction, Phases I–VI, is completed - a $5.5 million project.
Initiated the Racing the Sun competition, for high-schoolers, providing a hands-on opportunity for STEM education through building solar go-karts.
The Solar Zone infrastructure project is completed - a $2.6 million project.
The Solar Zone Amonix and TEP Solar City projects are completed.
2012
Julian Wash Greenway is developed as part of The Loop, a collaborative effort between the City of Tucson, Pima County, and the UA Tech Park
Dedication of UA Tech Park at The Bridges, site and infrastructure improvements completed making the Park "Development Ready"
Received Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council for the SolarZone
Optum Rx/United Health Services becomes a major tenant
The Solar Zone TEP II and AstroSol projects are completed.
Construction of Nobel Way is completed and accepted by the City of Tucson at The Bridges.
Economic impact study - Park houses 47 tenant companies which employ 6,226 of people, $51.3 million in tax revenue, $2.33 billion total dollar impact
2013
The Solar Zone E.ON project is completed.
Development of Global Advantage, the Tech Park's business recruitment strategy
A new café opens in Building 9040.
2014
Phase One of the Solar Zone is completed with the capacity to generate 25 MW of power
2015
Economic impact study - Park houses 38 tenant companies which employ 5,128 of people, $37.9 million in tax revenue, $1.7 billion total dollar impact
2016
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was honored with the naming of the street M L KING JR Way at the UA Tech Park at The Bridges
UA Center for Innovation celebrates 100 clients incubated
2017
Solar Zone Phase Two initiated - a significant milestone accomplished with the development of Iron Horse Energy Storage & Solar Project by E.On. The power generated is stored for TEP to use renewable resources more effectively and efficiently with the electric grid.
Global Advantage, the Tech Park's business attraction program, gained significant momentum in recruiting national and international companies.
2018
Solar Zone further expands Phase Two with an RFP for new technology focused on energy storage, grid optimization, and microgrids.
Economic impact study - Park houses 52 tenant companies which employ 5,870 of people, $51.5 million in tax revenue, $2 billion total dollar impact
