Chinese Industrial and Science Parks: Bridging the Gap

Abstract

This article proposes the addition of a “bridge high technology” stage to Park's (1996) Asian development model, based upon field research and analysis of four “science and technology parks” in different regions of China: Shenzhen, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Xi’an. Initially established as learning districts to foster technology transfer from foreign to domestic enterprises, these specially configured spaces exhibit a variety of interactions indicating an increasing shift toward domestically generated technology for native companies. The mix and type of companies in parks at different locations within China reflect the locational comparative advantages of each place, whether as an outgrowth of local research or by government design.