Erin Koshut, Executive Director of Cummings Research Park (CRP), the second largest research park in the U.S. and the fourth largest in the world, has been named president of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) Board of Directors.

AURP is a nonprofit organization representing more than 250 research parks and innovation districts globally, as well as corporate members supporting these initiatives such as planning, building, and operations of these research communities.

Members include NC State’s Centennial Campus, Purdue Research Park, Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Research Triangle Park, Aggie Square at UC Davis, University of Arizona Science & Technology Parks, Sandia Science & Technology Park, University of Maryland Discovery District and Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, among others.

Since 1986, AURP has been the pioneer guiding leaders to cultivate communities of innovation at global anchor institutions such as universities, municipalities, federal labs, and corporations. AURP is a dynamic one-stop shop network of university research park and innovation districts professionals coupled with innovation suppliers and aligned ecosystem institutions.

AURP represents the leadership of these technology developments, which are designed to promote research institute-industry relations and innovation districts, to foster innovation, and to facilitate the transfer of technology from such institutions to the private sector.

Cummings Research Park has been a member of AURP since 1987, with Erin serving on the board since 2019, previously as Secretary and Vice President before her appointment as President this year.

Her two-year term as President officially started on  January 1, 2023 and runs until December 31, 2024.

Erin will be responsible for helping set strategy and direction for the Association, focused on membership retention and engagement, financial sustainability, plus diverse, equitable and inclusive programming.

“Erin is a visionary leader in our community with a passion for Cummings Research Park,” said Lucia Cape, Senior VP of Economic Development for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. “She has created a dynamic environment in the Park that attracts talent while propelling Huntsville to the world stage through her work with AURP. We are proud of her role with the Association this year and know she will add value and energy to the organization.”

Cummings Research Park is the second largest research park in the country and the fourth largest in the world. It is one of the world’s leading science and technology business parks, with a mixture of Fortune 500 companies, local and international high-tech enterprises, U.S. space and defense agencies, thriving business incubators and competitive higher-education institutions.

In a recent press statement, AUROP CEO Vickie Palmer stated how Cummings Research Park has continued to fit into the identity of AURP’s central focus.

“Research parks and innovation districts are central to fostering groundbreaking discoveries built on unique public-private partnerships. Cummings Research Park has been an active and contributing member for many years, and recipient of AURP’s 1997 Outstanding Research Park Awards of Excellence in Innovation,” stated Palmer.

Palmer continued, stating that Erin’s prior work for CRP perfectly qualified her for the new leadership role.

“In 2017, under Erin’s leadership, CRP hosted the very successful AURP International Conference bringing together global community leaders within the Huntsville region. Most recently Erin has chaired the Creating Communities of Innovation 101 program including the strategy and implementation of a digital on-demand series for those just starting the process of creating their own unique community of innovation. I am honored to serve alongside Erin in her new Association role and am confident Erin will continue to drive high-impact collaboration for our network,” Palmer concluded.

For more information, please visit AURP’s website here.