About Us
Accelerating Economic Development in San Antonio
VelocityTX, formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation, is a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance San Antonio’s life science industry in order to promote sustainable economic and community growth. Leveraging our region’s unique strengths in research, development, and commercialization, VelocityTX carries out this mission through place-based industry clustering, startup support programming, and workforce development. Combined, these efforts are accelerating job creation and investment all across South Texas by positioning San Antonio as a critical hub of connection between academia, industry, and the military medical community.
Our Mission
VelocityTX is San Antonio’s champion for delivering sustainable economic and community growth. We connect, develop, and fund innovative ventures that enhance our bioscience and technology ecosystem.
Core Values
Integrity - Always Doing the Right Thing
- Be Honest
- Provide Fair Treatment
- Demonstrating Strong Moral Principles
- Building Trust Through Every Interaction
- Placing Our Collective Interest Above Ourselves
- Being Reliable and Delivering on Expectations
- Being Unified and Cohesive
Velocity - Moving Success with Magnitude and Direction
- Having a Bias Towards Action
- Demonstrating Skip Counting
- Delivering Impactful Results with Speed
- Working in Parallel
Innovation - Proactively Creating the Next Model
- Accelerating New Ideas
- Sustaining Momentum for New Innovations
- Initiating Change
- Every Experience is a Learning Opportunity
- Being Creative
1983
Our History
Cooke Feasibility study establishes the viability of a suburban research park in San Antonio.
1984
Our History
The Texas Research & Technology Foundation is formally chartered by BG Robert McDermott, then- CEO of USAA.
1985
Our History
The “Tiger Team” is formed to study model research parks in Pennsylvania, California, and North Carolina.
1986
Our History
Concord Oil Founder Tom Pawel and wife Nancy donate 1,500 acres in west Bexar County to serve as home to the Texas Research Park (TRP).
1987
Our History
EDS Founder Ross Perot donates $15M for the construction of IBT’s facility at the park, cementing IBT as TRP’s first anchor tenant.
1990
Our History
Research Plaza I is established.
1991
Our History
The Pawel Residential Complex welcomes first residents.
1996
Our History
1) Research Plaza II is built to house CTRC-spinoff ILEX Oncology.
2) EDA helps construct cGMP facility.
1999
Our History
The Siberry Technical Center opens.
2004
Our History
Defense Transformation Institute and International Institute of Human Performance established.
2010
Our History
The McDermott pre-seed fund is established to support early-stage bioscience companies.
2017
Our History
1) Longtime TRTF Board Member J Randolph “Randy” Harig becomes Chief Executive Officer.
2) TRTF board approves plan to purchase Merchants Ice Complex, begins to sell off property at TRP.
3) TRTF subsidiary VelocityTX is established.
2020
Our History
1) VelocityTX Innovation Center opens with anchor tenant GenCure, a subsidiary of BioBridge Global.
2) Alamo Angels is integrated into the Texas Research & Technology Foundation family of organizations.
2021
Our History
TRTF secures second anchor tenant for VelocityTX campus, North Carolina-based Scorpius Biomanufacturing.
2023
Our History
1) TRTF Community House acquires Quality Fence & Welding.
2) TRTF establishes a Technology Transfer Agreement with the US Air Force 59th Medical Wing.
3) VelocityTX administers UT Health TechNovum pre-accelerator.
2023
Our History
4) VelocityTX partners with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas to oversee a specialized accelerator designed to promote health equity.
5) VelocityTX oversees Military Medical Industry Day IV.
6) VelocityTX hosts inaugural BexarBio Pitch Competition.
2024
Our History
J. Randolph “Randy” Harig retires as CEO, turns over the reins to President and COO Rene Dominguez.
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