January 13, 2023
Community and business leaders gathered at Texas A&M University–Central Texas for the third annual Forge University Research Park and Innovation District Summit Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Attendees heard from A&M–Central Texas leadership, president and CEO of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Scott Connell, principal at architect and urban design firm Perkins&WIll Stephen Coulston, and keynote Dr. Saurabh Biswas, executive director for Commercialization and Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.
There was no shortage of vision or excitement for the proposed research park on campus. Participants discussed opportunities, partnerships, and accomplishments the community has made thus far.
A&M–Central Texas President Dr. Marc Nigliazzo specifically recognized great milestones the university has achieved while growing its research efforts.
“For a small developing institution our progressfrom 2010 to 2022, has been dramatic. Starting with zero research dollars in external funding we have averaged more than a million dollars per year with the greatest increase in the last five years,” Nigliazzo said.
The growth will only continue, which makes a case for a blended-knowledge, research community on campus.
During the summit Perkins&Will guided attendees through their recently completed comprehensive planning study for Forge at A&M–Central Texas, acknowledging the campus’ natural systems, and demographic and economic framework.
Coulston explained the importance of “bumpability” at a campus research park, as well as insight to their strategy for a sustainable community.
“Bumpability” is described in Perkins&Will’s comprehensive study as the “purposeful design of spaces and places to support ‘accidental’ interactions,” reinforcing the concept of a blended knowledge community.
Coulson noted that A&M-Central Texas is unique in that they are the only university in Texas that shares “a major, continuous border” with a military installation. The university also has a strong system partner with the Texas A&M system’s RELLIS research center, and access to a distinct talent pool with servicemembers exiting the military and the university’s graduates.
“The opportunity is really all about bringing these pieces and parts together in a really intentional way,” Coulson said. More information about plans for Forge@ A&M-Central Texas visit https://www.tamuct.edu/research/forge/.
