Science parks implementation framework proposal

Abstract

Innovation is a key instrument for companies to improve their efficiency and establish a long-term competitive advantage. In this context, Science Parks (SPs) are effective environments to promote new business based on technology and innovation. At the regional level, SPs are important for economic, social, and cultural development. As such, they promote new business and jobs, partnerships with universities and research centres, and attract new technology-based companies (NTBFs), which derive benefits from the spillovers that are generated. However, different regional realities and the varied motivations of the stakeholders explain the diversity among SPs. Accordingly, SPs arise and are governed through the cooperation of different types of stakeholders, such as academic, governmental, entrepreneurial and other agents and entities. Thus, they result from different interests and incentives that converge to their creation. A relevant approach to understand the specific engagement of different stakeholders in the creation of SPs and their respective roles is to study the context and circumstances of their formation. Starting from this point, the objective of this paper is to propose a SPs implementation framework based on cases from two countries - Brazil and Portugal. An investigation was laid down on 4 SPs in Brazil and 4 in Portugal through a comparative analysis methodology. Data collection occurred upon technical visits and, in complementarity, there was a documental approach on government websites, networks and associations and the SPs themselves. The results show that the main prerequisites for the formation of SPs are: A favourable environment with institutional stability, available knowledge, development business space and motivations that converge to a common purpose. As a theoretical contribution, the outcome of the research introduces the SPs implementation framework, emphasizing the main stakeholders and the fundamental prerequisites for their formation and development. As practical implications, the results can guide the design of a favourable institutional environment for the creation of SPs, enhancing the potential to produce good results such as innovation for the involved stakeholders and society, particularly at the level of companies.