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Renaming

Waterloo's successful research and tech park renamed the David Johnston Research + Technology Park

WATERLOO - The University of Waterloo has honoured its fifth university president and Canada’s 28th Governor General, the Right Honourable David Johnston, by officially renaming its highly successful research and technology park the David Johnston Research + Technology Park.

The unveiling of a new sign was attended by about 200 people, including His Excellency, along with Feridun Hamdullahpur, who succeeded His Excellency as president of the University of Waterloo, Ken Seiling, chair of Waterloo Region and Terry Stepien, president of Sybase iAnywhere, a global software company based at the R+T Park.

His Excellency, who ranks among the most respected and admired educators and public servants in Canada, played a leading role in establishing the R+T Park, a $214-million collaborative project involving the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the Region of Waterloo, the City of Waterloo, Communitech and Canada’s Technology Triangle.

The R+T Park has been hailed as a great success across Canada and many give His Excellency the credit for bringing the necessary public-private-government partnership together.

"It was a huge challenge to create the research and technology park, but His Excellency possesses a unique ability to bring people and organizations together, to make them see the benefits in working collaboratively for the greater good," said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president of the University of Waterloo. "The research and technology park will have a lasting impact on the university and the Waterloo Region community where it has become an inspiring centre of innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization."

Designed as a centre for Canada's top technology talent, the R+T Park, which broke ground for Phase I in 2002, will accommodate 1.6 million square feet of office space in 14 buildings on 120-acres (49 hectares). When completed, the park will house 9,000 knowledge workers, creating new technology jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic impact.

One key feature of the R+T Park is the Accelerator Centre, world-renowned for cultivating technological entrepreneurship. The centre guides the growth of new technology companies and promotes research commercialization in post-secondary institutions such as University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph and Conestoga College.

"Home to more than 25 technology start-up companies, the Accelerator Centre is focused on hastening the growth and success of fledgling start-ups from a broad cross section of technology sectors and helping them get their products market ready," said Ken Seiling, Waterloo Regional Chair. "The centre is a stellar example of governments, academic institutions and business working together to support innovation and entrepreneurship in our community."

Next on the horizon is the development of the Phase II lands for the R+T Park, which will add another 68 acres (27.5 hectares). The area is bordered by Bearinger Road and the environmental reserve near Westmount Road.

Sybase was the first company to have a building in the park. In 1995, Sybase acquired Watcom, the University of Waterloo's first major spinoff company.

"His Excellency's vision to combine a state of the art research park with a collaborative community is truly innovative," said Terry Stepien, president of Sybase iAnywhere. "The research and technology park has given Sybase and the Waterloo technology community a distinct competitive advantage in developing innovation and attracting brilliant people."