research parks

This issue of the Main Street Economist argues that several varieties of regional partnerships are particularly vital to the development of rural areas.

The paper aims at measuring the effectiveness of science parks; effectiveness is here intended and measured as the ability of science parks to support and emphasize spontaneous mechanisms of local knowledge transfer among local actors, i.e. to contribute to the development of a collective learning in a local system.

This paper analyzes the question: what does it take for science parks and technology districts to evolve and grow? The framework comprises three aspects of a science park’s development: growth mechanisms, level of technological capabilities, and nature of its integration with national or global markets.

Results of the study on the impact of university research parks and business location indicate that enterprises in the park spatial proximity and networking with the university are perceived more important than other cost effective aspects like cheap and flexible leasing space or business related support services.

In tracking the growth of Iowa State Universitys Research Park, the report suggests that the parks substantial economic activity has bolstered Iowas economy. The park is also linked directly to almost $88 million in total industrial output, while goods and services provided by businesses to the parks customers and employees have generated an additional $46.3 million in economic activity.

The report is a proceedings book to the International Association of Science Parks 2002 World Conference. The texts that follow are reproductions of the complete document submitted by the various authors.

The report from the University of Arizona Office of Economic Development found that generating $48.7 million in tax revenues to local and state governments and 5,949 direct jobs, the 31 tenants of the University of Arizona Science & Technology Park had an estimated direct impact in excess of $1 billion in FY 2000-01.