About 800 scientists and other officials from research parks in 52 countries will gather this week at the Raleigh Convention Center. The International Association of Science Parks' first annual conference in t
he United States will put this region in an international spotlight and reinforce the global reputation of the Research Triangle Park, said RTP President Rick Weddle. Recent conferences were held in Barcelona, Johannesburg, Helsinki and Beijing. "We're playing above our ranking," Weddle said. RTP officials won the right in 2006 to hold this year's conference, partly to mark the 50th anniversary of RTP. Weddle, 57, spoke with staff writer Alan M. Wolf last week about the three-year process of planning the conference, why it's important to RTP and this region, and how the recession is affecting business. Here are some highlights: On holding the conference here: Part of the reason was simply to attract buzz and publicity for RTP and this region. Science writers and bloggers from publications such as Scientific American and BusinessWeek will cover 47 academic papers and speakers including Glaxo SmithKline CEO Andrew Witty. In between speeches, panels and catered receptions, there will be tours of local companies, N.C. State's Centennial Campus and RTP.
For further details visit at : www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1550269.html
he United States will put this region in an international spotlight and reinforce the global reputation of the Research Triangle Park, said RTP President Rick Weddle. Recent conferences were held in Barcelona, Johannesburg, Helsinki and Beijing. "We're playing above our ranking," Weddle said. RTP officials won the right in 2006 to hold this year's conference, partly to mark the 50th anniversary of RTP. Weddle, 57, spoke with staff writer Alan M. Wolf last week about the three-year process of planning the conference, why it's important to RTP and this region, and how the recession is affecting business. Here are some highlights: On holding the conference here: Part of the reason was simply to attract buzz and publicity for RTP and this region. Science writers and bloggers from publications such as Scientific American and BusinessWeek will cover 47 academic papers and speakers including Glaxo SmithKline CEO Andrew Witty. In between speeches, panels and catered receptions, there will be tours of local companies, N.C. State's Centennial Campus and RTP.For further details visit at : www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1550269.html
