Science Park Networks

315 Pages·2012·14.87 MB·English

..
SCIENCE PARK NETWORKS
A report to the European Commission
Volume Two
..
'
><
..
w
Segal Quince Wicksteed Limited
~
tconomic and managemmt consuLtants
..
•
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Country reports
• Belgium
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Greece
•
Holland
•
Ireland
•
Italy
• Luxembourg
• Portugal
•
Spain
• UK
'
Technology demonstration centres study
Summary Results of the Postal Survey .
..
·-~·-
..
-
~-
~~· .............
...;,;;;:.·
.; ,.;:.
.;.:.;.;.: _
-·
-
BELGIUM .... .
.;:.
-
~:-..
f~~·;--·- -··-...:..- ~
~-
....
:~e
;:.
.
- -!" ...
.......... ..
...........
--
% .
.........-...... ::-:~:c::·~
-
l!===-===========-====-===-=====-=====-======-==-==-====-----==========--~---====---~.11 ~--:~~~:E_
........
. --·--··
·-~---·- ....... ~_.-...
" ~-. -~~-· ... -~-··:·~ ..
.•. :. ~:·.. •-.· -.. ~~-~-~~~~.
~t:e--1..~~~-:
.. ..
-·-·-.... -....... _.._. .-. .-_..· ..- , ... _. .... __ ··-: ....: :_!,.§._:~~ I;:·_.
·--·-······-··'-~--
. --..,pik. ....... .. ...-.-...... ...
..,·.:-...~---...=-........:·.-~
_
1rlo.4·~-· .........
.-.-.- ---~.-..:.. -...·..-.-:·.·.·.~-:..·-,:-·.-.. .~..·~.-.·. ·· -·. ..·.. .. .... . .·..~.:.- -....
... .. .... ......_.....,~. ~---
_
~4~~~!--a~~~~-~~--~~
...
..
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BELGIUM
•
1 · In 1971, the Government authorised public and private universities to collaborate with
local authorities in order to manage industrial areas linked to universities. The
flagship decision initiated the technopolitan movement in the ~ountry.
2 There are currently 13 science parks in Belgium, with one still under development.
The study reviewed two developments: the scientific park of Louvain-la-Neuve, and
the science park cluster in the Bruxelles Metropolitan area (Evere-Bruxelles, Neder
Over Heisenbeck, Meylemeersch-Anderlecht and Nivelles) which are connected in a
local network named Technopole Bruxelles.
3 The scientific park of Lo_':'vain-la-Neuve is a part of the project of the new town of .
Louvain-la-Neuve which was initiated by the Catholic University (UCL) in 1970. The
University has 10 faculties and more than 200 research units. In 1992-1_993 research
contracts for a total amount of more than SO millions Ecus have been signed with
industry. The technology transfer office of the university employs 8 persons.
4 The scientific park is mainly intended for high . technology firms who want to
·collaborate with the university. About 50 companies are currendy working on the
park, They have been selected on pre-established criteria by the university. Financial
income from the park is entirely reinvested in University Research. The university
has also created an incubator for new companies. . A common programme for
building an international telecommunications area has been initiated in 1993 with
Belgacom. The facilities interest the firms of the park which spend more than 2
million Ecus per year in international communication. Actually, few companies are
currently interested in advanced telecommunications services. An open access room
dedicated to transmission facilities already exists on the park but it is not often used.
A common project o.f teletraining could be operational in 1994 with Louvain-la-~euve
and Chareleroi University.
ii
5 Technolopole Bruxelles works as an economic development a.gency with decentral~sed
bodies, the science parks managers of Evere, Neder-OVer Heisenbeck, Meylenmeersch
.Anderlecht and Nivelles. It was created in 1990 with the success of the science p·ark
of · Evere. The mission .of Technopole Bruxelles is to develop a scientific and
technological environment to attract new companies and to improve global
performance of existing companies. The association has a budget of 5 million Ecus
and employs 15 persons. Three major tasks have been ·defined:
inform SME about research, technological opportunities, public financing, and
support transfer of knowledge from universities •
set up projects of partnerships in. the fields of food industry, telecommunications,
precision instrumen~ and health
stimulate international programmes through the UNKOR network created with
the technopoles of Montpellier, Nancy, lle de France, Malaga and Casablanca.
Telecommunications could be a support to all of these activities:
ISDN lines would be useful to transmit information to SMEs; a software might be
also useful to facilitate the use of telematics databases
new telematics applications might be tested for example in order to stock and
share X-Ray photos between hospitals and doctors
long distance communications could be useful to support projects of
collaborations in LINKOR; databases would also be useful to inform the members .
of the network about the core competencies of firms involved in the different
science parks.
'•
..
DENMARK
-~ .. -- ... - ... _.. -~. . ·. .:::~::-.~.~~-- -:·:..:..:. .~---:~.·~.-~-. :'-~.-.-:-..:.... . .~...: . ........ - -:- -:..· ~· ... ... --~·~· -~·- ·- -.-... .;_ :-~. ;·.: -.
_, .. .., •... .....,.4, ...
-.• • ·---..... ·,.!"'--... '-·- .-. :. .....,.. ..... .-..-..· ·..-- •. ,_ ~_.-,.~ '.3'..1.4.1 ~\- ~..- ...- .! .__-:.-.•.•-.• .·,._.. .. ........... .._ . . -,. . _--__.. ~-.
•. ............. ...,_... --- --4-
~-.---. ................... .,..;,_.
·---- -·. --... ..... --,-. ~--.~..y. ~,-..~.-,_- _· .-:.~-
.. . -._:::.: .. .. ... . ___ , . . -.... ··-·· ---._ ... ·-.:~-... .. .... .: - ::·.:. ... ; __ ,_ ..... ::_ _
~ :~;..... -~:.-,:~- ~;~: :.:.;.~~-~~~~ =.::~.~; ~-:;::-;~=.:~~~ :~-:~:=:-=~~~2":~~- ~ -~?!:!!.£:~~~·~:::."-
.... ... .. • ·•
-~.::-":'j~ ~~:.7.• . -:.,. . -:~ -~~: .. :.::~-~:. ~~--··:w:::-~·.::~ --~:!::·~-~:r:~:~~~,~~-h~3~?~;: -~~~=~ ·.:..:-.~.- ·.~· ::~-a~::: ~-.:
.. <·.. . :::_;._. ...
---~ ' .i :;~_±·_:;;:: ~~-4<~~~< ~~-~-:::~~~ ~::..~::=_ ~-~-~=~-:~~~~:2~~:6:7£~- 5~ -~~£. i~:· .. ::.~, ..:-:::%~ii/-~---: ::.:~.-
-
.._ ............... ... -.. .-.-.. :....-....·. .- ..-- _--~; -. ·..- ...--.·.·.. ....... .. .' ...... ...... .:-~ - .•..~..• -""'=---•~..-•..~. ~ -~ ··-·-·---· '..-.... _ P -o......,f.';..;·.;.-~ . .-.... -.·.:. ..-. :- .-.~ 4--.:.--- o-•l-.-., · .·..-·.-.· ... ._. .. . -. - -· ....
• ...... , ....... .:. •• .. - • •• ····-···· .... .J
............. ·---...,.,·-: ...... - ---.... ....
__ ~--:::-·~
. -.. -_, ....... -:-. --. . ··.- -=__ __~ :._. . _.....,.... -... .- --- _ ... -......... ..:_•-•.. .....4.. ... -.....~, ".. ..·.:...-.. .-....=......-.:. ·.- .~_. -:.... . ..~ .....-.. -..~....- .-.-.-.·~ .~.."·..-.'.-. :.._...-.-.-. ...·: ........... ......... ~- ..... --···---
...
-
....
. ... _.. ...... ·-· :--""~"! '~"'·"··-·-·.a.;;;.:.o..~.-..-. .... -~,.·•-. ·. .. ,:· .:.1.-.-.. . :._•· .~::--"-"·: ", .'.. .... ..' :.." ..~ ..-. ··~= ~:,.;..-
1
Chapter one
INTRODUC'I'ION
.
.
1.1 There are, at the moment, six Science Parks (SP) in Denmark, all in proximity to a
HEL Generally science parks are not seen as a means for development of the regional
economy. The Danish government has embarked on a new focus. on SME, which are
seen as the means to carry industrial development forward. However, Denmark has
one of the lowest start-up rates in Europe.
1.2 SPs have up till now played a little role in this, but the government is working on a
new law concerning SP and their role in the Danish industrial scene and in economic
development. SPs have played a more important role in being a channel for
technology transfer, or in developing practical technical competence (development
R&D) .
.; Five of the six SPs have aeated a national association of SP managers, (the sixth is not
considered to be a real SP because it lacks direct links with a HEI or research
establishment). This as~ociation is informal and used for exchange of experience and
discussion of common problems/issues. This association is planning to become a
member of IASP. The SP which is currently outside the national association is working
more as a business park, but is building up its connection with HEI's etc, and has
recently established an innovatiolahouse (incubator) for knowledge based companies
at Danish Technological University (DlU).
1.4 Foitr Science Parks were visited for this study, two on Zealand and two in Jytland. 19
companies/organisations were visited in connection with the SPs. As mentioned
earlier, the science parks in Denmark have not until now received much attention
from the government, and the local municipalities or counties have not used SPs as
an active part of their regional economic development. The government is about to
submit a draft law on science parks but the draft is not appreciated, or as one SP
manager described it 'completely useless'.
2
1.5 Municipalities/counties have in all cases supported the SP·with either land, property
or by being helpful with planning permission etc., but have otherwise not seen the SP
as a part of their economic development strategy. In one case where the county has
closer contact with the SP, the county's view on the SP role in the local economy was
to create technical competence in the two main industry sectors; electronic (including
telecommunication) and material technologies, the county sees as the backbone for
economic development in the area. The objective of ~s SP was perceived as being a
place for spin-Outs from the local university, both from the HEI and the SP
management to commercialise R&D, not so much to create new jobs. Job creation is,
C?f course, seen as the positive side effect of the commercialisation. the science park
has had projects come from big companies and close down and return when an idea
had been developed into a commercial product.
1.6 The infrastructure in Denmark is very developed, \Vith everybody having the ability
to have a telephone/fax installed. Similarly ISDN covers Denmark 100°/o, with an
installation price of twice a normal telephone line. The telecommunication company
(TeleDenmark) had expected to have 20,000 subscribers on ISDN by now, but so far
only 3,000 have chosen it. ISDN is today mainly used in the graphics industry for
transfer of drawings etc. Denmark has one of the lowest telecommunication tariff in
Europe, and Germany has threaten to cut the mobile telecommunication connections
to Denmark because the price difference is so big.
1.7 Two of the Science Parks interviewed had direct access to e.mail and InterNet through
the local university. All universities in Denmark are linked up to an organisation
called UNI•C \\·hich is operating a network (DE-Net) between academics in Denmark.
It is possible for an organisation in Denmark to have installed all kinds of company
specific telematic networks if the organisation is willing to pay for it.
1.8 Most of the companies perceived their networks (human & telematic) as being
sufficient, both with customers and academic/ organisations. All of the companies
would, of course, like to find more customers, but finding partners for professional
development of their company or product has a much lower priority. Exploring
potential needs for further network contacts revealed interest in professional contacts,
though with the reservation that a potential telematic network not should be confined
to SPs. From discussing networking and linkages, all the respondents argued that face
to-face contact is essential to create trust between partners. At the same time many of
the respondents were tired of going to conferences which had a useless programme,
and little time for what most people attend a conference f~r- to create and maintain
network contacts.
3
1.9 ·In order to keep in contact with th7ir customers and professional partners most
companies mostly u~es 'normal business communication' (letter, tel/fax) The use of
e.mail and other advanced telematic media (huge datatransmission etc) were mostly
confined to companies who's staff originated within academia, whereas companies
founded by entrepreneurs outside academia knew about the opportunities but did not
use them. Academic staff brought the tradition of communicating with e.mail to the
companies which often gave the companies worldwide contact and easy access to their
linkages and new information. Similarly academics are more used to having
international contacts from their research work, which .they continue to use after
moving to a private company, giving them a wider contact range~
1.10 Only a few pec;>ple had tried videoconferencing and only a few private
firms/ organisations in Denmark use it regularly. Videoconferencing can be used to
maintain contact between partners, but was perceived as unsuited for creating contact,
because it is impossible to create a feeling of trust without seeing the other person
face-to-face.
1.11 Reactions and potential needs for telematic network between SPs in Europe were
extremely varied, from a request to install highspeed datatransmission network
tomorrow to a company who did not see any use for it. All people argued when
prompted about a network amongst SP that it should not be confined to science parks,
but it should be possible to access organisations etc outside the network.
4
..
Chapter Two
REGIONAL BACKGROUND (Zealand
Denmark)
2.1 This description is cove~g nvo science parks, Symbion in Copenhagen and
Forskningscenter ved Hersholm (FvH). The parks were visited in January 1994.
2.2 FvH is located in the North of Zealand, next to a motorway and close to .a railway
station. The area has mainly light industry consisting of offices and general businesses
industry, but as in many other areas there is a huge surplus of office space. Next to
the SP are two very prestigious office buildings with 42,000 free Sqm.
2.3 There is no HEI next to FvH, but they have Danish Technical University (DTU) 10 km
down the road. DTU is Denmark's biggest educational institution for civil engineers.
Symbion is a similar case, with no HEI close to it. Most of the HEis in Copenhagen
are within approx. 15 min. drive from the SP.
2.4 Being located in the capital, Symbion has the biggest concentration of educational and
research institutions in Denmark. Most of the bigger companies have representation
in Copenhagen. The main focus .of companies within the SP's (bio-technology) is
based in and around Copenhagen.
2.5 The main economic players in the region are public administration/ services. and
financial services. The medical industry has a strong presence in the region with a
company like NOVO NORDISK.
2.6 In Copenhagen, a number of municipalities and counties are currently setting up a
new initiative for attracting foreign investment and mobile research projects (domestic
and foreign). This initiative is slightly different to those of normal development
agencies. The group which consists of five municipalities in the area, is trying to sell
projects rather than promote Denmark/Copenhagen as a wonderful place to locate.
This is done (or will be) by finding interesting technolog!cal projects, seeking a
partner, nationally or internationally and afterwards trying to attract partners to attach
to this project. As the initiative has only recently started there is no way to tell
whether it is a success, but is certainly an interesting initiative.