History

At the request and in the name of the State, the New York State Atomic and Space Development Authority (ASDA), (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) predecessor) acquired land in the Town of Malta, New York, from the federal government. This property, known as the Malta Test Station, had been used for innovative development and space research activities.

Renaming the site to the Saratoga Research and Development Center, the site continued to be used for various federal space-related and weapons testing work by lessees who were federal contractors. In 1975 NYSERDA assumed ownership of the property when it was created as ASDA's successor and changed the site's mission to that of energy research and development.

After again looking at the 280-acre site to determine its best use, NYSERDA joined with the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and the University at Albany to form a joint effort to develop the property as a technology park devoted to clean energy, energy efficient, and environmental technologies. Thus, in August 2001, the establishment of STEP was announced.

STEP is the only technology park in the nation with this focus, as it is the perfect place to grow clean-energy and environmental technology companies.