| The Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, which is | | | | and local businesses. The land where the park is now |
| frequent abbreviated to simply RTP, is one of the | | | | built was originally purchased by Karl Robbins. In |
| largest research parks to be found in the entire | | | | combination with the Cummings Research Park |
| world. A research park, which is also commonly | | | | located in Huntsville, Alabama and the Virginia |
| referred to as a science park, is a specialized | | | | BioTechnology Research Park in Richmond, Virginia, |
| property development that includes a high | | | | North Carolina's RTP is one component of what is |
| concentration of high tech, research, or science | | | | referred to as the "New South" of scientific |
| related businesses. | | | | leadership. |
| The RTP in North Carolina is located in what has | | | | In all, North Carolina's RTP contains 7,000 acres and is |
| become known as the Research Triangle Region in | | | | situated within a pine forrest that offers another 630 |
| the state. The majority of this region is found in | | | | acres for potential development. Over 130 research |
| Durham County, though a portion of it is also located | | | | and development facilities were located in the RTIp |
| in Wake County. | | | | as of 2007. In addition, the RTP employed over |
| North Carolina's RTP, which was created in 1959, has | | | | 39,000 employees representing 157 different |
| earned a reputation as one of the most prominent | | | | organizations in the area. |
| high tech development and research centers in the | | | | A number of notable companies are located at the |
| United States. In addition, it is frequently compared | | | | RTP. One of the largest IBM operations in the world, |
| to Silicon Valley in regard to its technology and | | | | which employs around 11,000 people, is found here. |
| scientific importance. | | | | Other companies include Bayer, the Environmental |
| The development of the RTP was the result of a | | | | Protection Agency, Sony Ericsson, and many more. |
| collaboration among nearby universities, governments, | | | | |