Great news for the City of Agrifood, Veterinary and Agroenvironment Biotechnology in Saint-Hyacinthe. During the Association of University Research Parks’ (AURP) international conference, which ends today in New Orleans, this organization, based in Les Maskoutains, was presented as the Best Emerging Research/Science Park Award during the AURP 2011 Awards of Excellence.
The Saint-Hyacinthe location set itself apart from some ten other science parks worldwide that had also been nominated, thus becoming the first in Quebec and the third in Canada to be granted an award in a category of this prestigious competition, which marked its 16th anniversary this year.
This award is presented each year to an emerging science park that excels in its ability to translate technology derived from applied research into economically viable business activities, while generating investment and promoting the growth of jobs and public revenues. The recipient must be an active participant in development of the university and research community, while impacting positively on recruitment and retention of researchers and young talent.
“The strength of a university research park is its impact on the community and its ability to drive economic growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life,” said AURP President Harold Strong. “It is a pleasure to announce that Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole was named the AURP 2011 Emerging Research Park. We know that the progress of the park has only just begun and we look forward to the continued success and community impact of Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole.” he added.
The City of Biotechnology site, which extends over an area of almost 10 million square feet, is already home to more than 30 innovative private companies. More than $600M has been invested by both public and private sources, thus creating some 580 direct jobs, which represents one of the highest development rates among high-tech science parks of its kind in Canada.
This is the second prestigious form of recognition garnered by this emerging science park in a very short time. Earlier this year, Saint-Hyacinthe was the only Canadian park – and one of only two in North America, along with a facility in San Diego, U.S.A. – to be named in a prestigious study on biocluster performance conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the European Commission. This location earned the same ranking for level of development, among all the clusters included in the study, as did the centres in Paris, Oslo and Munich, and it came in behind only two locations: Cambridge and San Diego.
The City of Agrifood, Veterinary and Agroenvironment Biotechnology in Saint-Hyacinthe is one of the first science parks in North America that works exclusively in the biofood industry. Its development is centered on two great institutions of research and higher education: the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Université de Montréal (a Faculty located off the main campus) and the Food Research and Development Centre. It also relies on three business incubators and the expertise of 22 chairs and research centres, as well as 17 support organizations, all connected to the agrifood industry.
Saint-Hyacinthe
Documentation
Investing in