2026 International Conference Agenda
Download Conference Flyer Here
FOUNDATIONS TO FRONTIERS: Research Parks and Innovation Districts for America’s Next 250 Years
Tuesday, September 29 – Thursday, October 1 | Pegasus Park in Dallas, Texas
Day One of Conference – Monday, September 28th
All meetings held at the Virgin Hotel (1445 Turtle Creek Blvd. Dallas, TX 75207)
1:00pm – 4:00pm | AURP Board of Directors’ Meeting
6:00 | Board of Directors’ Sponsor Appreciation Dinner (by invitation only)
Want a seat at the table? Contact Vickie Palmer to discover sponsorship opportunities and gain access to this invitation-only experience.
Day Two of Conference – Tuesday, September 29th
All meetings held at the Virgin Hotel (1445 Turtle Creek Blvd. Dallas, TX 75207)
7:30 | Check-In / Continental Breakfast
8:00am – 4:00pm | COMMUNITIES OF INNOVATION 101 (additional fee applies)
Discover the building blocks behind thriving ecosystems at AURP’s Communities of Innovation 101.
OPTIONAL TOURS OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – DALLAS
9:00am – 10:30 am, 11:30am – 1:00pm, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Address of Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (BMES) Building
- 2336 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75235
This year’s leadership roundtable will explore the trends, milestones and economic forces shaping America’s innovation landscape.
4:00 – 4:30 | VIP Reception (by invitation only)
Day Three of Conference – Pegasus Park – Wednesday, September 30th
All meetings held at Pegasus Park (3000 Pegasus Park Dr. Dallas, TX 75207) – transportation will be provided AM/PM only
7:30am – 8:15am | Transportation from Hotel to Pegasus & Continental Breakfast & Check-in
8:00am – 8:30am | Welcoming Remarks
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8:30am – 12:30pm | MAIN STAGE GENERAL SESSIONS
Includes…
Pegasus Park Vision
Brain Health Insitute
Reimagining the Modern Research Park
Economic Impact of Innovation Districts
Discussion with ARPA-H
NSF TIP Directorate
Genesis Mission
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12:30pm – 1:45pm | AURP International Conference Celebration Luncheon
Celebrate #AURP2026 by recognizing our Awards of Excellence in Innovation, visionary leadership, and milestone anniversaries.
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2:00pm – 2:45pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Includes…
From Knowledge Economy to Brain Economy: A New Blueprint Park Success
Financing Innovation: Connecting Capital, Commercialization, and Community Impact
Creating Opportunity: Workforce Development Across Education and Innovation Partners
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3:00pm – 3:45pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Includes…
From Corporate Relations to Regional Competitiveness: Reimagining University Partnerships for Innovation
Financing Strategies for Research and Innovation
UT Dallas’s Vision for Student Success, Research, and External Impact
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3:45pm – 4:15pm | Networking Break
4:15pm – 5:00pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Includes…
Exploring High-Impact University Innovation Ecosystem Investments with Digital Twin Modeling
Universities as the New Network Epicenter: How Research Parks Can Anchor the AI Infrastructure Economy
Designing Innovation Ecosystems That Scale
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5:15pm – 5:45pm | Visionary Voices: Afternoon Keynote
Speaker: Tom Osha, Executive Vice President, Wexford Science & Technology
7:00pm | Small Group Dinners
Day Four of Conference – Pegasus Park – Thursday, October 1st
All meetings held at Pegasus Park (3000 Pegasus Park Dr. Dallas, TX 75207) EXCEPT as noted ‘off property – transportation will be provided AM/PM only
As part of your conference registration, you will have the opportunity to select one of two exclusive
half-day caucus experiences on the morning of October 1st.
AURP’s Bio Health Caucus OR AURP’s Air & Space Caucus
Choose the track that best aligns with your interests
and engage in focused discussions with industry and innovation leaders
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12:30pm – 1:30pm | Networking Lunch & Small Group Tours of BioLabs
1:30pm – 2:15pm | MAIN STAGE SESSION
The Innovation Leadership Playbook: Perspectives from Chief Innovation Officers and VPRs
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2:15pm – 2:30pm | Break
2:30pm – 3:15pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Includes…
Aligning the Innovation Value Chain: How Research, Capital & Real Estate Converge
How VPRs Are Shaping the Future of University Research in the FAce of AI Transformation
Quantum Computing: Texas-Sized Growth Opportunities and Workforce Needs
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3:15pm – 3:45pm | Break
3:45pm – 4:30pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Includes…
From Closure to Cluster: Anchoring Innovation After Economic Disruption
High-Impact Areas of Innovation: Case Studies and Toolkits
Winning Through Specialization: Sector Strategies for High-Growth Innovation Districts and Research Parks
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4:30pm – 4:45pm | Break
4:45pm – 5:15pm | Visionary Voices: Fireside Chat
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5:15pm – 5:30pm | Closing Remarks
Installation of 2027 Board of Directors
Presentation of Presidents’ Award
6:30pm | Small Group Dinners




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