World Trade Centers Association and International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation Sign Agreement for Wide Collaboration

TRIESTE, Italy | May 23, 2018 – Representatives of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) and the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) today officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations. The agreement is meant to pave the way for individual science parks to partner with their local World Trade Centers to fuel local economic growth through scientific innovation.

Based in Malaga, Spain, the IASP is a worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation with nearly 400 members in 76 countries. Focused on connecting professionals managing science, technology and research parks, all of which have a tremendous impact on economic growth, the organization is a natural partner for the WTCA whose Members work at the grass-roots level to find global trade and investment opportunities for local businesses. For its part, the WTCA counts more than 320 Members located in nearly 90 countries.

“Both the World Trade Centers Association and the IASP operate as nonprofit, non-political membership organizations with a global point-of-view,” remarked Andrea Garwood, Executive Director of WTC Trieste, WTCA Board Member, and signatory to the agreement representing the New-York-based association. “The opportunities that are created in connecting both of their vast global networks are significant and hold great potential for the cities where this agreement makes such cooperation possible. We have, in fact, seen this very kind of development here in Trieste, in partnership with our own local science park.”

Luis Sanz, IASP Director General who was in Trieste to sign the MOU, commented: “Two global organizations reaching agreements to develop actions that will benefit their respective members is something to celebrate, especially considering that as well as both being worldwide networks, we both deal with companies, business and economic activity. Building bridges for companies to cross from shore to shore is absolutely essential in an increasingly networked global society. WTCA and IASP have reached a clear common vision and have begun work to make it happen.”

Signatories vowed to identify appropriate opportunities to connect Members of both organizations in order to:

• Identify potential “living labs” inside WTCs where science park tenants can test market new products
• Connect projects affiliated with members of both organizations with potential investors or buyers
• Explore potential pricing benefits on facilities and services to extend to members of both organizations

Scott Ferguson, CEO of the WTCA added, “As an organization we are always looking for new partners to help fulfill our mission of ‘connecting the business world.’ In today’s ever-advancing technological revolution, science parks and areas of innovation are vital incubators for the next big idea, and we are delighted at the opportunity for our Members to play a part.”

Cities with both a local IASP-affiliated science park and a local WTC include: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Abuja, Nigeria; Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Barcelona, Spain; Beijing, China; Berlin, Germany; Bogota, Colombia; Boston, United States of America; Brasilia, Brazil; Brest, France; Bucaramanga, Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cairo, Egypt; Casablanca, Morocco; China (Beijing), China; Chongqing, China; Curitiba, Brazil; Daejeon, South Korea; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Dulles Airport, United States of America; Edmonton, Canada; Eindhoven, Netherlands; Guanajuato, Mexico; Guangzhou, China; Guiyang, China; Havana, Cuba; Hong Kong (AF), China; Hong Kong International Airport, China; Islamabad, Pakistan; Istanbul, Turkey; Jakarta, Indonesia; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kunming, China; Lima, Peru; Lund, Sweden; Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Madrid, Spain; Malmo, Sweden; Marseille Provence, France; Medellin, Colombia; Merida, Mexico; Milan, Italy; Montreal, Canada; Moscow, Russia; Muscat, Oman; Nairobi, Kenya; Nanjing, China; Nantes Atlantique, France; Nice/Sophia Antipolis, France; Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; Panama; Poznan, Poland; Punta del Este, Uruguay; Qatar; Ramallah, Palestine; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Seoul, South Korea; Sevilla, Spain; Shanghai, China; Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Shenzhen, China; Sofia, Bulgaria; Sofia (AF), Bulgaria; Stockholm, Sweden; Suwon, South Korea; Taichung, Taiwan; Tallinn, Estonia; Tianjin, China; Tokyo, Japan; Tokyo (AF), Japan; Trieste, Italy; Turku, Finland; Utrecht, Netherlands; Utrecht-Papendorp Branch, Netherlands; Wuhan, China; Wuhan CBD, China; Zaragoza, Spain; Zhengzhou, China; and Zurich, Switzerland.

About the World Trade Centers Association 

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly-connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in nearly 100 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more visit www.wtca.org.

For media inquiries:

Alex Brown
World Trade Centers Association
abrown@wtca.org
+1 212 432 2605

Andrea Mencía
World Trade Centers Association
amencia@wtca.org
+1 212 432 2644