Selected participants will get to know the economic ecosystem of Central Texas during a week of visits through the cities of San Antonio, New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, San Marcos, College Station, and Austin.
SAN ANTONIO
The 7th ACE will kick off in Forbes’ #1 “Hottest City for Millennials” - San Antonio, the largest city in Central Texas and the 7th largest in the United States. With a population, close to 1.5 million, San Antonio is one of the most diverse, internationally connected and inclusive cities.
With a vibrant culture and economy, it is consistently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the United States and in 2018 will be celebrating its 300th anniversary.
The leaders and decision makers that attend ACE Central Texas will get a firsthand look at the depth of opportunities that exist within the region and in San Antonio, in industries such as bioscience and, healthcare, aerospace, cybersecurity, energy and transportation manufacturing.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
San Antonio will showcase its key industries and set the scene for global relations and collaboration. Participants will network with industry leaders from established and start-up companies in these areas. They will also explore linkages with University of Texas at San Antonio’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Participants will visit and experience our foremost research institutes including: Southwest Research Institute and Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC).
South west Research Institute is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas and is one of the oldest and largest independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organizations in the United States. Notably, for more than three decades, they have been a recognized leader in space science research, as well as in the development of spacecraft instrumentation, avionics and electronics for both government and industry.
San Antonio is a regional hub for medical care in South Texas. For example, BAMC, the United States Army's premier medical institution and research center, is located near the heart of the city and is a key reason why San Antonio is rapidly becoming the "Home of Military Medicine". San Antonio is increasingly recognized as a national center for bioscience research and innovation. With the largest military healthcare and biomedical research operations in the United States, it is providing unique collaborative opportunities not available elsewhere. The city’s vibrant research community is discovering and developing new treatments, vaccines and prevention techniques for some of mankind’s most challenging and complex diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as bio-threat agents like smallpox, Ebola and tularemia. Research is the fuel that drives bioscience industry growth, and in San Antonio it springs from three distinct, but collaborative, sources: academia/non-profits, the military, and the private sector.
Strategic Partners
Urban Revitalization and Development
Culture and Entertainment
Participants will have the opportunity to either visit the UNESCO World Heritage Designated Missions or cheer for the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
San Antonio is proud of its UNESCO World Heritage Missions, the first and only World Heritage site in Texas. It encompasses a group of five frontier mission complexes situated along a stretch of the San Antonio River basin, as well as a ranch located 37 kilometers to the south of the city. The complexes were built by Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century and illustrate the Spanish Crown’s efforts to colonize, evangelize and defend the northern frontier of New Spain. The San Antonio Missions are also an example of the interweaving of Spanish and Coahuiltecan cultures, illustrated by a variety of features, including the decorative elements of churches, which combine Catholic symbols with indigenous designs inspired by nature.
No visit to San Antonio would be complete without experiencing the Riverwalk, and the award-winning mixed-use redevelopment center of the Pearl. The Pearl is a culinary and cultural destination in San Antonio. This former brewery has been transformed into a gathering place where everyone is welcome to live, eat, play and learn along the banks of the San Antonio River. An evening at the Pearl will showcase first-hand the revitalization and its impact and, weather permitting, participants will have a chance to ferry back to the hotel on the world-famous San Antonio river barges.