University City Science Center
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The University City Science Center (UCSC) is the first and largest urban research park in the United States. [1] Established in 1963 and headquartered in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, it provides technology commercialization resources to entrepreneurs, including incubator space with fully-equipped laboratories and “plug ‘n play” offices, and programs that demonstrate, nurture and sustain new technology businesses. Graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually. [2] According to University City Science Center: An Engine of Economic Growth for Greater Philadelphia, graduate firms that remain in the Philadelphia area produce $4.2 million in state income taxes and $22 million in Philadelphia city wage tax every year. [3] The Science Center boasts a forty-five percent success rate.
Location
Situated on 2 million square feet of real estate, the Science Center is located near several major universities and research institutions including The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and The Wistar Institute. Its location facilitates academic collaboration and fosters participation in the region’s largest community of researchers. The Science Center’s newest building is LEED certified at the silver level and features one of the largest green roofs in Philadelphia. [4] [5]
Programs
The Port
The Port business incubator offers more than 50,000 square feet of laboratory and office space with a plug ‘n play, state-of-the-art infrastructure, broadband connectivity and significant tax advantages. The Port accommodates the changing needs of emerging, fast-growth companies. Fully-equipped wet and dry laboratories, managed office space and office amenities, and an influential network offer a "big company" lifestyle to small companies.
Global Soft-Landing
The Global Soft-Landing Program fosters international business in the U.S. by helping global companies establish a foothold in local life sciences and information technology markets. Philadelphia offers a strategic location between the nation's regulatory/legislative hub in Washington and its financial center in New York. Global Soft Landing provides international companies with fully-equipped laboratories, plug ‘n play offices and access to the Science Center’s full suite of business support programs.
QED Proof of Concept
The QED Proof of Concept Program is a funding and business development program for researchers at the Greater Philadelphia region’s academic institutions. QED supports proof-of-concept R&D in early-stage life science technologies with commercial potential. The QED Program integrates Grant Funding, Business Advice, Market Drivers and Guidance to Exit. The Program has been acknowledged as one of the factors contributing to Philadelphia's anticipated recovery from the recession. [6]
Quorum
Quorum is a program that strengthens Greater Philadelphia’s culture of technology commercialization by creating a magnet for entrepreneurs and innovators throughout the region to convene, interact, network and exchange ideas. A modular, “greet, meet, and eat” space facilitates their ability to build knowledge and explore opportunities. The Satellite Quorum offers Science Center-supported programming at diverse events across the region. The iQuorum integrates online networking tools.
Companies
As of September 2009, the Science Center business incubator has "hatched" 351 companies. Of these, 155 are still in business and directly employ 15,686 people.[7] They include Centocor, Neose Technologies, SEI, Bentley Systems, 3-D Pharmaceuticals, BioRexis, Acuity, Morphotek, and many others.
The work of the approximately 100 incubator and resident companies that currently call the Science Center home ranges from diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, healthcare systems, bioinformatics, and cognitive science to information technology infrastructure, interactive media, nano-scale imaging, novel materials and clean energy technology.
Ownership
UCSC is a nonprofit, owned by 30 local institutions. With a 40% share, the largest shareholder is the University of Pennsylvania.[8]
References
- ^ http://www.luminogenics.com/blog/2009/08/science-center-launches-regional-business-calendar-on-its-web-site/
- ^ http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2009/09/14/daily4.html
- ^ http://www.genomeweb.com/bioregionnews/life-sci-shops-local-economy-boosted-philly%E2%80%99s-university-city-science-center
- ^ http://www.luminogenics.com/blog/2009/10/08/university-city-science-center
- ^ http://www.waeddblog.info/?p=3399
- ^ http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090914_Expect_a_quick_recovery.html
- ^ University City Science Center counts its hatchlings
- ^ University City Science Center’s impact $9B, study says