The science and technology park phenomenon: where the literature is going?

Abstract

Science and technology parks are infrastructures designed to accommodate and stimulate the growth of tenant companies by managing the flow of knowledge and technology between universities, R&D institutions, business and markets (Link, 2019). Link and Scott (2006) define a science park as "a cluster of technology-based organisations that locate on or near a university campus to benefit from the university's knowledge base and ongoing research. The university not only transfers knowledge, but expects to develop it more effectively by partnering with the research park tenants" (p. 44). In a less academic sphere, although strongly inspired by its postulates, the definition proposed by the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) stands out, defining a science park as one that meets the following characteristics: • It maintains operational links with universities, research centres and other higher education units (e.g., Guadix et al., 2016). • It is designed to foster the formation and growth of knowledge-based industries or high value-added tertiary enterprises, typically hosted in its infrastructure (e.g., Nauwelaers et al., 2019; Fukugawa, 2006). • It has a stable management team that is actively engaged in promoting technology transfer to tenant organisations (e.g., Lecluyse et al., 2019).