Research Triangle Park: Evolution and Renaissance

The Research Triangle Park (RTP) is one of the largest and oldest examples of how strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and business climate can positively impact an economy. RTPs success was built around its first-mover status in the field of science parks; its ability to build a critical mass of technology companies and knowledge workers; and the Parks linkages to the regions universities research and development strengths. RTPs future success will depend on its ability to marshal these assets and to reinvent itself to better address coming global and technology trends.This paper is divided into five parts: 1. Overview and History 2. Impacts of the Park 3. Turning Point (Challenges and trends confronting RTP) 4. Preparing for the Next 50 Years (Strategies and programs to evolve RTP) 5. Summary and Conclusions