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Baltimore, MD – November 2, 2007 – At the annual meeting of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), held last week in St. Louis, University of Maryland (UM) BioPark was named “Emerging University Research Science Park of the Year.” This is the first year the professional association has awarded this honor.

According to the AURP, “The award is presented to a park that has been in operation less than five years, and has excelled in bringing technology from the laboratory to economically viable business activities, thus promoting the growth of businesses, jobs and revenue. The park must also actively participate in the university and federal lab community, creating an important positive effect on university research funding and on recruitment of superior students, faculty and researchers.”

Jane Shaab, Vice President of University of Maryland Health Sciences Research Park Corporation, the non-profit organization that manages the UM BioPark, received the award on behalf of the park, and said, “ The leadership and support of University of Maryland President Dr. David J. Ramsay and the strength of the University as one of the nation’s top ten public academic medical centers, has enabled us to build the kind of success we’ve achieved in these early years of development. We are honored to be the first recipient of this award and look forward to continuing as a leader among university research parks.”

About AURP:

The Association of University Research Parks is a non-profit international organization, that represents planned technology developments, alternatively referred to as research, science or technology parks, which are designed to promote university-industry relations, foster innovation, and facilitate the transfer of technology from academe to the private sector. Today, the Association serves over 350 members around the world.

About UM BioPark:

University of Maryland Baltimore BioPark offers sophisticated laboratory and office space for early-stage to mature bioscience companies. Today the UM BioPark includes 360,000 square feet  in two multi tenant buildings and a 630 space  garage. Development plans for a third multi-tenant building to house life sciences companies are underway. For more information, please visit www.umbiopark.com