August 2025 welcomes six new Full Members

Get to know the six new Full members that IASP welcomes this August. Representing China, Colombia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia. Each brings important expertise to the global community, and we are eager to engage and collaborate with them. 

BEIHANG UNIVERSITY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PARK 

Located on the campus of Beihang University in Beijing, China, the Beihang University Science and Technology Park serves as a vital hub for transforming academic research into commercial innovation, with a strong focus on aerospace and intelligent manufacturing. The park offers shared laboratories and advanced testing facilities to support industry collaboration and applied research. 

Key areas of specialisation include UAV manufacturing and flight testing, gyroscopic technologies, and airborne nuclear radiation monitoring. Spanning a built area of 4 million square meters, the park is home to more than 350 companies. 

Its ecosystem is further strengthened by robust incubation programs, currently supporting 175 startups and early-stage ventures, fostering the next generation of high-tech enterprises. 

PRINCESS NOURA BINT ABDULRAHMAN UNIVERSITY SCIENCE PARK 

Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) is the largest women’s university in the world, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Established in 1970 as the first College of Education for women in the Kingdom, it evolved into a comprehensive university in 2008, named in honour of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman. The university gathers over 30 colleges and specialised research centers, including a well-established Health and Natural Sciences Center. It is active in fields like public health, genetics, pharmaceuticals, and AI applications in healthcare. The presence of a fully operational university hospital also supports both applied research and clinical education. It offers internal funding, student innovation programs, and has mechanisms in place for IP registration and commercialisation.  

PNU’s campus includes over 600 smart buildings, a metro system, and a unique digital innovation hub called “CODE Lab,” which supports early-stage startups and digital entrepreneurship. Currently 63 companies are incubated. Their labs are equipped for advanced research in areas like genomics and biotech, and their Biobank has international certifications including ISO 20387 and CTRNet affiliation. PNU collaborates with leading universities and research centers both within Saudi Arabia and internationally, and it is actively engaged in community-focused innovation activities, awareness programs, and public-private partnerships. 

SANYA YAZHOU BAY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CITY - CHINA 

Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City is a cutting-edge innovation hub located in western Sanya, Hainan Island, launched in 2019 as part of the Hainan Free Trade Port initiative.  

Spanning around 26 km², it integrates five specialised zones: Nanfan Silicon Valley, Deep-Sea Sci-Tech City, University Town, Nanshan Port, and a Global Germplasm Transfer Base.  

With strong foundations in tropical agriculture and marine sciences, it has attracted leading universities and research institutes and hosts nearly 9,700 enterprises across digital, high-tech, and bio‑agricultural fields. The ecosystem features groundbreaking platforms like the Seed Laboratory and deep‑sea research facilities, while its recognition as an offshore talent base cements its status as a globally connected innovation powerhouse. 

RUTA N MEDELLIN – COLOMBIA 

Ruta N Medellín is a pioneering district for innovation and technology located in Medellín, Colombia. Established in 2009, Ruta N was conceived as a catalyst for transforming the city’s economy from one rooted in traditional industry to one based on science, technology, and knowledge. This guiding mission continues to shape its dynamic approach to urban innovation. 

The Ruta N complex spans three interconnected, sustainably designed buildings and provides a modern infrastructure that includes coworking spaces, private offices, labs, meeting rooms, and event venues. Its strategic location near major universities and research centers further strengthens its role as a convergence point for academia, government, and business. The physical environment is complemented by programs and platforms that foster talent development, capital attraction, and technology transfer. 

Today, Ruta N plays a central role in Medellín’s innovation ecosystem. It supports more than 200 startups and scaleups through early-stage acceleration, soft landing services for international companies, and open innovation programs that connect global enterprises with local solutions. The organization also manages a smart capital network and offers resources to facilitate partnerships between entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors.  

In addition to its focus on entrepreneurship, Ruta N is a key driver of public innovation policy and science-based urban transformation. By mobilizing cross-sector collaboration and promoting a culture of continuous experimentation, it helps position Medellín as a forward-thinking city. With a growing network of local and international collaborators, Ruta N continues to shape the future of Medellín by turning innovation into an inclusive engine for sustainable development. 

NEXT PARK – NEW ZEALAND 

NEXT Park aims to cultivate a vibrant and collaborative innovation environment for startups, research institutions, and international enterprises. Their mission is to support the commercialisation of technology, promote sustainable development, and enhance international cooperation, particularly across the Asia-Pacific region. By connecting resources from government, academia, industry, and community, they are dedicated to enabling practical innovation and contributing to the growth of future-oriented industries in New Zealand and beyond.  

Spanning a surface area of 1020 m2, the project currently has 4 resident companies and 14 incubatees from the sectors of agriculture, renewable energy, food safety, and consulting and advice. 

KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY INNOVATION DISTRICT– SAUDI ARABIA 

King Faisal University Innovation District (KFUID) is a forward-thinking innovation district located in Al‑Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Spanning a purpose-designed area within KFU’s main campus in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, KFUID is a dynamic ecosystem that integrates academic excellence with applied research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration. The district is home to over 48 million square meters of innovation-dedicated infrastructure, with expansion plans aimed at reaching 50 million square meters to accommodate future growth and diversification. 

Through cutting-edge facilities, mentorship, funding pathways, and industrial partnerships, KFUID aims to bridge the gap between research outputs and market-ready solutions. 

Today, KFUID is a pivotal conduit for translating academic ideas into impactful solutions. The district aspires to serve as a regional model for academic innovation ecosystems, demonstrating how higher education institutions can lead in innovation, economic impact, and global collaboration. 

Join us in welcoming these peers to our global network as we strengthen connections between innovation hubs worldwide and advance our mission to drive growth and internationalisation within our community.