Email This StoryEditorial: BRIC: creating something beautiful out of something formerly neglected
Nov. 5, 2009
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Claire Taylor | Lariat Staff |
| Central Texas Research and Technology Park and Baylor Research and Innovation Collaboration: •BRIC: An economic force for Waco •BRIC: A place for engineers' research •New technology park unveiled •Baylor, local leaders announce Central Texas Research and Technology Park |
People say unique partnerships yield the best results. When it comes to the new Baylor Research Innovation Collaborative (BRIC), a new research collaboration, they are absolutely right. The significantly positive addition to the Baylor family and to the community-at-large was announced at a news conference on Oct. 23.
Baylor University, Texas State Technical College, McLennan Community College, McLennan County, City of Waco, City of Bellmead, Waco-McLennan County Economic Development Corporation, Bellmead Economic Development Corporation, Waco Industrial Foundation, Heart of Texas Council of Governments and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce all came together to create this extraordinary project. Together, these groups are known as the Central Texas Research Technology Park and this is their first project as one organization.
The purpose of BRIC is to provide graduate research space for the School of Engineering and Computer Science, not previously offered by Baylor, and for certain other interdisciplinary research centers and institutions. This is a noble effort by all the parties involved.
Additionally, this new research collaboration will allow space for advanced technology training and work force development for Texas State Technical College and McLennan Community College programs. It will provide an environment for anchor industry partners already located in or newly recruited to McLennan County. Through this, students may be able to meet influential contacts and learn from people already practicing the ideas being taught in the classroom.
Among the many benefactors of this project is Clifton Robinson, Waco business and civic leader. He, the Robinson family and H. Bland Cromwell offered the General Tire facility to Baylor to repurpose as it saw fit for the benefit for the university and the community.
The university had the power to create something that only benefited itself, but, instead, created something that the whole community will enjoy. Through devotion to city of Waco and to McLennan, Baylor has beautified a previously-neglected building for growth in research, enterprise and regional economic development.
Not only is BRIC a great opportunity for research and educational improvement, but Baylor is flexing its humanitarian muscles by creating jobs and resources that the entire community may embrace, maintain and endorse.
Truly, the benefits to this project appear endless. The engineering program will improve exponentially with the means and might to begin the program's first doctoral degree program.
Staff and students will partner with big and small companies to research ideas and improvements. Thus, as a direct result of this wonderful addition to the community, Central Texas should gain hundreds of job opportunities in the short term and thousands in the long term.
"The BRIC both complements and extends longstanding community visions and economic development goals," said Dr. Elizabeth Davis, Baylor's interim provost, who made the initial announcement at the news conference.
BRIC is the kind of project Baylor students, professors and faculty should take pride in. It will enhance and aid research, create jobs and resources for the local community and utilize an old space to foster something beautiful.
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