Skelton attends International Association of Science Parks (IASP) Conference in Recife, Brazil

Representing Richardson/The Telecom Corridor® Area of
Innovation, Director of the Mayor’s Office of International Business Mike
Skelton attended the 29^th annual conference of the International
Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) held in Recife,
Brazil October 14-17. The
conference theme was “Science Parks Shaping New Cities” focusing on the role of
science and technology parks and areas of innovation proving a leading role in
new and existing city strategies and processes.

As only one of nine full member organizations in the United
States, Richardson/The Telecom Corridor® Area of Innovation joins a worldwide
organization of 388 members providing tremendous networking and prospecting opportunities
to attract foreign technology companies to our area.

“Richardson’s
technology industry heritage and mature ecosystem provides an excellent
platform from which to attract companies from IASP member locations around the
world,” says Skelton. “During the conference I was able to meet more than
40 science and technology park managers and introduce them to Richardson/The
Telecom Corridor® Area of Innovation as a location for their growing companies
looking to launch a U.S.
operation.”  

Subsequent IASP conferences will be held in Doha,
Qatar in 2014 and Beijing,
China in 2015.

Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil looking to partner with Richardson, Texas

The city alderman of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mr. Eliseu Kessler, invited Skelton to visit him after the conclusion
of the IASP annual conference in Recife.
Mr. Kessler had visited Richardson
in November 2012 and met with former Mayor Bob Townsend, City Council member Mark
Solomon and Skelton looking to establish a “Friendly
City” relationship between the two
cities to promote trade, foreign direct investment and cultural exchanges. Rio
de Janeiro will host the 2014 World Cup Soccer Games
and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Mike Skelton traveled to Rio de Janeiro after the IASP
conference October 17-22 where Mr. Kessler arranged high-level meetings with
executives of RioSoft (the software industry association of southern Brazil),
American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce,
Brazilian Export Commission, Rio Business (the economic development
organization for the city of Rio de Janeiro), and several other business
organizations. Mr. Kessler and his wife provided a personal tour of the city
and on the final day of his visit there, he arranged for Skelton to receive a
“medal of honor” from the leaders of the Rio de
Janeiro City
Legislature. Both parties are currently working toward a “Friendly
City” memorandum of understanding.