Abstract
Science parks as area developments have existed for decades and captivated the attention of academia and policy-makers for their potential impact on firms and regions. Only limited attention is given to the needs of science park firms regarding what science parks offer. Therefore, this study focused on science park facilities and services and how firms perceive the benefits associated with these attributes. An online survey distributed among tenants on seven science parks in the Netherlands yielded 103 respondents. An a priori list of science park attributes was presented in order to gain insight in how the respondents associated these facilities and services with potential benefits. The benefits considered were derived from proximity and innovation literature within the science park context. In general, science park attributes were associated with either proximity benefits or benefits related to the SP real estate. Based on a cluster analysis of organisational characteristics three tenant types were identified. The three tenant types sought different benefits through different attributes. Commercially-orientated firms associated science park attributes as ways for being near customers. Mature science-based firms associated attributes with a wider range of benefits, such as image benefits, being near customers and other firms. Young technology-based firms were more cost-driven and focused on image benefits. The associations between various types of facilities and the benefits that tenant types seek, provide insights for practitioners in terms of the design and management of science parks and add to the body of knowledge of science parks within the context of innovation management.
Highlights
Science parks are commonly described as physical areas where multiple knowledge-intensive organisations and institutes co-locate and where innovation is formally and informally leveraged (Link and Scott 2015)
This study focused on the benefits that SP tenants perceive from SP attributes related to the facilities and services on park
In a cluster analysis three different tenant types are found based on organisational characteristics
Summary
Science parks (hereafter SPs) are commonly described as physical areas where multiple knowledge-intensive organisations and institutes co-locate and where innovation is formally and informally leveraged (Link and Scott 2015). SPs are supply-driven measures that aim to improve networking and collaboration between park tenants (Edler and Georghiou 2007). On micro-level, hosted firms share facilities and services, which allows them to avoid large capital investments in expensive facilities, optimise use and promote synergy (Brinkø et al 2014; Van Winden and Carvalho 2015). Co-location of various firms and, if present, universities provides for proximity benefits, such as knowledge sharing between tenants (National Research Council 2009; Ferrara et al 2015)
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