U.S. university research parks

Abstract

The role of research parks in the transfer of academicresearch findings is considered. A model is offered that describes the growthand productivity of research parks using data from the new National ScienceFoundation database on university research parks. The data covered the years 1997 and 2002, andwere supplemented bysurvey interviews with park directors and university research administrators. Anumber of definitions of research parks are offered to establish the on or offcampus location and public or private operators as variables. The model of park growth created offers evidence that park formationsincrease R&D efficiency (using park growth as a measure of parkproductivity or success). The findings indicate that parks located closer to auniversity, operated by private organizations, and having a determinedtechnology focus usually grow faster than the average (8.4%)annual growthof research parks. For the 81 existing university parks and 27 additional parks currentlyplanned, it is estimated that the average annual rate of growth decreases overtime for both private and university-operated parks. The findings also suggestthat, as technology transfer activities at universities increase, moreuniversities are likely to imitate the infrastructure success of thoseuniversities with established parks. (CBS)