Tech research park initiative to be unveiled at summit

A first-of-its-kind summit focusing on the future needs of the high-tech industry in southern New Hampshire will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6, in Nashua.

Sponsored by the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce and the city of Nashua, nTEK 2007, will bring together top-level management from large and small tech companies in both southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts to discuss an initiative aimed at creating a high-tech and research park in he region, with incubator space for tech companies.

“The high-tech industry will be the most critical component of our region’s economy over the next 20 years,” Nashua Mayor Bernie Streeter said. “If the city of Nashua and the greater Nashua region intend to retain our billing as the high-tech hub of New Hampshire, we must take steps to strategically plan for the recruitment, growth and sustainability of high tech businesses in and around Nashua.”

Streeter said the initiative to create a tech research park and incubator “will serve as the backbone of that strategic plan.”

The nTEK forum will make public six months of work between the chamber and city, which have been exploring the interest within the community for a tech research park initiative. Collaborative efforts between the two entities have focused on securing initial interest among key stakeholders essential to the successful establishment of a Tech Research Park. Critical elements such as land availability, city support, the interest of education partners, and the interest of major tech companies currently located within Greater Nashua are coming together to create favorable conditions for such an initiative.

“At BAE Systems, our global success relies on the overall health and vibrancy of the local business communities in which we are located,” said Aaron Penkacik, chief technical officer at BAE Systems’ Electronics and Integrated Solutions Group in Nashua.

He said the company has been “encouraged by the resolve demonstrated by the Nashua chamber and the city to sustain the future viability of our region’s tech companies.”

Robert Myers, president of Daniel Webster College, described nTEK 2007 as “an opportunity for the Nashua community to place itself squarely on the map of the country’s most cutting-edge technology centers. An initiative as ambitious as the creation of a tech research park will require enormous resources and commitment from our state’s education partners, and Daniel Webster College is ready to help lead that effort.”

Featured at nTEK 2007 will be representatives from successful existing tech research parks across the country, including Joe Wallace, executive director of Central Florida Research Park in Orlando.

“The key to any successful initiative lies in due diligence, and we are tremendously excited that we have recruited some of the leading experts from some of the country’s best regional technology centers to share their experiences with us,” said Chris Williams, president of the Nashua chamber.

Also taking part in nTEK 2007 will be speakers from across New Hampshire, including Commissioner George Bald of the state Department of Resources and Economic Development, Chancellor Stephen Reno of the University System of New Hampshire, and Fred Kocher of the New Hampshire High Tech Council.

Major sponsor of nTEK 2007 is BAE Systems. Kollsman and The Flatley Company are supporting sponsors. ActiveEdge New Media is Web sponsor, and New Hampshire Business Review is media sponsor.

For more information, visit visiting www.ntekconference.com. – JEFF FEINGOLD