City of Richardson Announces Inaugural Economic Development Trip to India to Promote Richardson IQ®

Richardson, Texas – Richardson is strengthening its international business ties with Asia by sending two representatives to India this week. This visit is part of a strategic partnership with Startup Runway, a business that specializes in helping startup companies expand to the United States.

The City of Richardson and University of Texas at Dallas have partnered to help develop the Richardson Innovation Quarter, or The IQ®, as a hub for innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. It serves as a central point for businesses, startups, and research institutions to collaborate and drive economic growth and technological advancements by offering a range of resources, including state-of-the-art facilities, coworking spaces, and access to a network of professionals and investors.

“This is a strategic step towards building the infrastructure and pathways needed to attract the type of business opportunities we’ve targeted for the Richardson Innovation Quarter,” said Richardson City Manager Don Magner. “This trip will highlight the synergies available here for innovative startups, and we look forward to seeing how these relationships will grow and strengthen our community.”

Richardson’s Interim Economic Development Director, Chris Shacklett, and Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Greg Sowell, will depart on July 11 for a 10-day, five-city tour that will focus on fostering relationships with Indian government officials, potential investors, and business leaders. Stops will include Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Mumbai, with the goal of highlighting Richardson as a destination for international business, leveraging the city's strategic location, skilled workforce, and technology ecosystem.

“We will visit five different cities to tour business incubators, manufacturing zones, university research centers, and visits with government officials,” said Interim Economic Development Director Chris Shacklett. “Our goal is to strengthen economic ties and lay the groundwork for new business opportunities between Richardson and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.”

Richardson is already home to several India-based businesses, including tech companies Infosys and Tessolve. The goal of the new partnership with Startup Runway is to attract foreign prospects with proven products that could launch in Richardson, eventually growing operations and increasing employment opportunities in the community. Toward that goal, the trip will focus on creating connections with companies that promote Richardson’s five target industries: advanced and additive manufacturing, professional and financial services, health, medical and life sciences, technology and software, and research and development.

The City of Richardson is committed to fostering a global business environment that supports innovation and economic prosperity. This trip represents a significant step towards achieving these goals and underscores the importance of international partnerships in driving local economic success.

About the City of Richardson

Located just north of Dallas, Richardson is a culturally diverse community offering a blend of urban amenities with exceptional suburban service. Richardson benefits from being home to The University of Texas at Dallas, a research powerhouse. UT Dallas’ influence is felt in the presence of dynamic businesses in sectors such as advanced additive manufacturing, biotechnology, finance, software development, and R&D, as well as hosting incubators for entrepreneurial start-ups. Richardson’s thriving, innovation-focused economy creates numerous opportunities while also supporting a historically stable local government capable of delivering high quality-of-life and exemplary services for a diverse array of neighborhoods and multi-modal transportation options, enabling easy access to the entire DFW Metroplex. The community is regularly recognized in third-party rankings as one of the best places in the nation to live, raise a family, start a career, go to school, buy a home, and retire.

www.RichardsonEconomicDevelopment.com