UC Davis and IBM are collaborating on the proposed Aggie Square project in Sacramento.
UCD Chancellor Gary May announced the agreement on Thursday.
A group of IBM specialists joined staff from Aggie Square and the UCD Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement in a newly leased building on Stockton Boulevard.
The proposed building will also include a flexible innovation center for UC Davis faculty, IBM and others to host events to demonstrate their latest innovations and collaborative projects.
“Aggie Square is off to an amazing start,” said May. “There is still much to do before we start new construction, but we won’t wait to share ideas and create opportunities for the university, for the community and for industry. I couldn’t be more grateful to IBM for their interest and their leadership. We are building an innovation ecosystem, and I’m sure today’s collaboration is a preview of greater things to come.”
This announcement marks an early milestone for Aggie Square, identifying UCD programs, corporate collaborators and community initiatives that will anchor investments in the initial projects. A realistic time frame for full completion of development is five to 10 years.
“IBM is proud to join UC Davis in the Aggie Square Launch Space,” said Todd Bacon, IBM vice president and managing director of California. “Innovation and collaboration are part of our rich history, and that’s what Aggie Square represents.”
Aggie Square will create a live/learn/work/play environment to foster collaboration and creativity. Entrepreneurs, companies and workers can thrive in our technology campus that values inclusion and creates chance encounters among creative people.
The project will create new public space with welcoming, accessible entry points that connect the university with its neighboring communities.
“This is a great win for our city,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “We are thrilled to be part of this unique collaboration that will bring jobs and opportunity to our community.”
The entrepreneurial relationships such as the one with IBM forged at Aggie Square will advance human health, enrich lifelong learning, enhance emerging technologies, and set the stage for future collaborations as yet unforeseen.
“The launch space aligns with the Aggie Square vision of industry, academic, and community collaboration,” said UC Davis Provost Ralph Hexter. “This will enhance the university’s business and social impact, and we’re just getting started.”
Aggie Square is designed to provide UC Davis and its partners with the abilty to create educational and economic opportunities in Sacramento and beyond.
Located on the UCD Sacramento Campus, Aggie Square will house business partners and community-based programs with the university’s innovation and research to create a stronger and healthier shared community.
The Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement expands the visibility and impact of faculty research, teaching and service in communities. It finds connections among scholars, researchers, and educators that focus on public issues, and helps them integrate their work with communities on and off campus.
The Oak Park area was chosen for the project last April, selected after potential sites were explored starting in December 2017.
Oak Park, along with more real opportunity for young people from all low-income neighborhoods in Sacramento,” Mayor Steinberg said when the initial location was announced.
In addition to job creation, internships for students will be a feature of Aggie Square, as will the opportunity for students to gain experience in research laboratories.
