GRIP

The New Frontier in

Puerto Rico’s Knowledge Economy

PRTEC commissioned an assessment of Guanajibo Park to Eng. Felipe Morales. With this appraisal a committee composed of PRIDCO, PRTEC, UPRM, Mayagüez Municipal, PRMA’s Construction Cluster and EDC was created to start working on the GRIP concept. Supported by Economic Development Center (EDC) it was approved a $50,000 grant from EDA to prepare a Master Plan for GRIP. By this approval a task force was formed by PRIDCO, PRTEC, and the PRMA’s Construction Cluster to guide the Master Plan Process. For additional help on the Master Plan a consultant, Ramón Sánchez, was hired.

GRIP Mission Statement

The Guanajibo Research Park will be focused and reoriented as an internationally competitive State of the Art Technology Hub capable of attracting and serving global technology leading industries.

Innovation center for both local and international high tech companies and knowledge based projects.

• Shared services, modern and environment friendly facilities.
• Mayor stakeholders (government, academia, and private sector) working together to provide the best experience for our clients.

GRIP will be a balance to the Knowledge Corridor sponsored by the Research Trust Fund in the Metro area. With the UPRM being the main academic component in establishing or expanding R&D centers in areas like: aerospace, software development, materials science, biotech and renewable energy, giving a focus to engineering and biotech sectors. In contrast, the Knowledge Corridor incorporates UPR – Rio Piedras Campus, Medical Center Campus and the new Cancer Center and is mainly focused in the health related fields.

GRIP incorporates a group of Strategic Partners that includes: PRTEC, the PRMA’s Construction Cluster,the Bio/Pharma Cluster, the Medical Devices Clusters, SBDC, Primex, etc. Those in turn, will collaborate with and support GRIP tenants in project management, facilities management, commercialization and technology transfer areas. Displaying the contemporary in industrial/office space, R&Dspace, ready (landing site) space, incubation space, and adding to the updated power, telecommunications, and other infrastructure considerations; GRIP will offer a preferred incentive package for its tenants.

Easy Access and Solid InfrastructureGuanajibo Research & Innovation Park (GRIP) consists of over 50 buildings, including 3 brand new ones and several others renovated. It has easy access to Aguadilla International Airport with daily flights to numerous destinations in the United States and the other Caribbean Islands. Also, GRIP is minutes away from the Port of Mayagüez, and a public transportation project is in process. There is access to fiber optic from A&TT and Puerto Rico Telephone Company.  

Tax Exemption & Infrastructure Incentives

International projects and local startups could qualify for labor and Infrastructure incentives from Workforce Investment Act Local Consortium (WIA) and Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) Also, the Municipality of Mayagüez will provide additional local tax exemption and other benefits. The Puerto Rico Research, Science and Technology Trust have grants and tax exemption programs for researchers and scientists. 

What is a Research Park?

Is a master planned property and buildings designed primarily for private/public research and development facilities, high technology, science based companies, and support services.

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• •A contractual, formal or operational relationship with one or more science/research institutions of higher education.
• •A role in promoting the university's research and development through industry partnerships, assisting in the growth of new ventures and promoting economic development.
• •A role in aiding the transfer of technology and business skills between university and industry teams.
• •A role in promoting technology- led economic development for the community or region.

Categorization: Product and Services

• •  Urban services in premises including:
  • • Transportation
    • Parking, Inter-modal Transportations, Pedestrian Corridor Access

• • Infrastructure
  •  Water and Sewer, Electricity, Communications, Technology Access

• • Business support services for tenants on site.
  • • Financial Services
    • Commercial and Personal Banking, Money Management services and International financial services.

• • Mail Services
  • PO BOX, Package Mail Services

• • Publishing Facilities  
  • Copy-Press Services, Plans Copy Services, CAD Services

• • Travel Service facilities
• •Convenience facilities and services
  • • Restaurants or Dining areas
  • • Sundry stores
  • • Day Care facilities
• • Security and law enforcement services
  • • Police mini-station
  • • Law offices
• • Medical and emergency care capability
  • • Doctors offices
  •   Medical Insurance offices

  

Proposed Improvement Facilities