Third Generation Science Parks a Vision for the Future

A Scenarios Workshop in 2006, by Professor John Allen - and 29 others

A scenarios workshop
Participants from science parks, research, regional development, venture capital, big business, universities; To determine what characteristics and objectives a future, successful and mature science park should have; Outputs were in the form of a scenario for success, considered from a future standpoint; My objective: move on by looking forward and not back!

Stages of science park development

General process of science park maturation: Start-up establishment and first year or so of operation; Development adding buildings, gaining experience; Maturation recognition of wider, more desirable role in community. Can be a profound change:
Move to multi-site operation; More direct role in helping SME to grow; Closer link with university; Or other features

This is the 3rd Generation Science Park.

Welcome to the future 1

National and regional context:
3G science parks not stand alone ventures, but intimately involved in national and regional innovation policies: Successful science parks have positioned themselves as leaders in the development of the knowledge economy; Great cities of the world have been influenced by the new generation of science parks..

Welcome to the future 2

Strategy:
Management and boards of the highest quality; Clear long-term strategy; Sustainable business model. 3G science parks are gateways, not destinations. Pre-occupation with location, property and place has been replaced with a focus on process.

Welcome to the future 3

Management:
Top-quality CEOs, with leadership qualities, broad set of skills and capable of relating positively to disparate sectors which regularly interact with the park. Underlying fundamental objective in managing a mature science park is to optimise serendipity

Welcome to the future 4

Finance:
Proportion of private investment has greatly increased; Good commercial return, and use a proportion of the surplus to support services to tenants; Public sector support still important for operations in difficult regions.

Welcome to the future 5

Environment:
3G parks: regard the built environment as vital: not an end in itself, but as aid to the process of creativity, interaction and innovation; have sense of responsibility, and show concern for the global environment.

Welcome to the future 6

University relationship:
Principal defining characteristic of 3G SP:
Active, effective, diverse, two-way: University sees park as part of its own institution; Park as shaper of the curriculum and faculty culture; Park impacts back on universitys core business. On curriculum; recruitment; graduate destinations; and the research agenda.

Welcome to the future 7

Networking:
Networking at all levels essential to the 3G SP;
Need for networks at park level, local, regional, national and global; Helps with benchmarking, comparing best practices and supporting commercialisation of high added-value products;

The best parks report a network value in their reports and accounts, and leave those that dont work.

Welcome to the future 8

Growing the companies.
The park management:
Understands their tenants and their objectives; Adds value by interpreting the opportunities and consequences of each tenants business; Strives to establish a climate of trust with its tenants; Offers a range of advice and support to assist growth; Makes the transition from incubation a seamless one.

There is no single right answer!

Professor John Allen allen@pythia.u-net.com