ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY News Release
August 7, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Singapore Firms to Locate at SkySong
ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center Is Focus for International Technology Businesses
Representatives from Logical Steps, a Singapore-based web applications company, visited Phoenix and met with numerous Arizona State University (ASU) officials in preparation for starting operations at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, when it opens later this
year.
ASU's Office of Economic Affairs hosted the visit of CEO Viswanath "Vish" Parameswaran and co-founder and President Jason Sparks. Founded in 2002, Logical Steps delivers new media platforms and content for immersive experiences. Logical Steps is dedicated to leveraging the
latest technologies and user-centric design principles to deliver web, mobile, PDA and desktop applications for marketing, learning, gaming or Rich Internet Application development. Of specific interest to the firm is data visualization, real-time data and framework creation for data
visualization. The company has a development center in India and aims to offer attractively priced, high level web-based software to the U.S. market.
Parameswaran says "We look forward to starting business operations in the U.S. We believe the support and opportunities offered by ASU, and the services available at SkySong, provide our company a decided advantage in entering the U.S. market."
Logical Steps representatives met with numerous research and technology groups at ASU, including Applied Learning Technologies Institute (alt^I), ASU Technopolis, the School of Computing and Informatics, Technology Ventures Clinic, Technology Based Learning and
Research (TBLR) and Partnership for Research in Spatial Modeling (PRISM). Tours of Decision Theater and SkySong were also conducted.
Richard Franklin, director of the Enterprise Arizona Venture Center located at SkySong, coordinated the visit. "Logical Steps' location at SkySong demonstrates the appeal of ASU resources to international companies. As a tenant, Logical Steps can engage with ASU and other
tenants to help bolster its research, product development and customization for the US and other markets," said Franklin.
The visit marked another step in the growing relationship between ASU and technology interests in Singapore. Following a delegation visit from the International Enterprise Singapore Wireless Mission to Scottsdale in March, Nate Summer, director of strategic marketing for
SkySong, traveled to Singapore and met with several interested companies in April including ST Consultancy, an educational software consulting firm, and Eye Power, an educational gaming company, both of which have formally signed a letters of intent to locate operations at Skysong. Aurigin Technologies, a builder of equipment for computer chip manufacturers, signed a letter of intent last fall.
ASU is aggressively developing relationships with institutions, businesses and entrepreneurs in Singapore, Ireland, China, Mexico and Germany as part of its strategy to make SkySong a place where international businesses will locate and interact with Arizona companies and university innovators. The first phase of SkySong is expected to open in fall 2007.
Singapore, just smaller than New York City at 265 square miles, has a population of about 4.5 million.
Logical Steps (www.logicalsteps.net)
SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, is a mixed-use development that will consist of 1.2 million SF of research, office and retail space in addition to residential units on the site. Located at the intersection of Scottsdale and McDowell Roads-between downtown Scottsdale and the ASU Main campus in Tempe-SkySong will combine technology, innovation, education and business in a collaborative environment that integrates state-of-the-art digital infrastructure into flexible office and research space. Organized around a grand boulevard lined by retail, restaurants and cultural institutions, SkySong will serve the needs of residents, businesses, research and technology industry and academia while building vital networks between university innovations, regional progress and the global technology industry. For more information, visit http://www.skysongcenter.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Leland
ASU Office of Economic Affairs
480-965-00132
karen.leland@asu.edu