On Nov. 13, the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) named Iowa State’s Research Park its Distinguished Community of Innovation of the Year. The award recognizes ecosystems that are “driving the journey of research translations from concept to market and creating measurable impact.”

“We built the Park to collapse the distance between class and career. When interns can quickly and easily move from lecture hall to office, they stay longer, contribute more, and—crucially—see a future for themselves right here in Iowa.”

When Iacovos Zachariades founded Global Reach Internet Productions in 1995, the World Wide Web was still in its infancy, and building websites was considered more curiosity than career. What began as a personal hobby turned into one of Iowa’s longest-standing and most successful tech companies—and one of the ISU Research Park’s oldest tenants.

Ames is gaining traction as a magnet for biotech startups, thanks in large part to the CYVAX initiative, a pilot-scale space housed in the Iowa State University Research Park that helps young vaccine and biotech companies scale production, train workforce, and accelerate time to market.

Launched in 2021, CYVAX is a small-scale, shared wet-lab environment located within the ISU Research Park that helps early-stage biotech companies move from bench science to real-world production. Funded by the state of Iowa and operated with strategic support from ISU and the Research Park, the program has already supported eight startups—five in animal health, others in human and plant sciences—and boasts a 100% continuation rate among participants.

For more than 35 years, Stellar Industries has built a name synonymous with durability, innovation, and impact. From its headquarters in rural Garner, Iowa, the 100% employee-owned company has grown into an internationally recognized manufacturer of high-performance work truck solutions—from hydraulic hooklifts to tire service trucks and cranes.