P a r tn e r s h i ps w i t h H i g h e r
E d u c at i o n e sta b l i s h m e nts
c a n b e k e y t o a pa r k ’ s s u c c e s s
procurement bidding process simpler
and more accessible to SMEs. She is also
aiming to build connections between
Whitehall and the products and services
offered by innovative small companies
across all sectors.
SHARED ISSUES
for mapping, developing and
implementing the University of
Michigan’s strategy for the NCRC,
David described the path of development
for the Complex, and noted how strategic
collaboration between site stakeholders,
plus creative approaches to building use
and reuse, such as the conversion of a
lab space into archival storage, helped
achieve effective costing and
management of science space.
Emma Jones MBE, Founder and CEO
of Enterprise Nation and Small Business
Crown Representative, then presented
a keynote on how to encourage more
innovation. She is working with SMEs
and the government to make the public
Throughout the conference, it became
clear that certain issues were of particular
relevance to members. These included:
ideas about how to develop successful
sites of innovation within a knowledge
economy; best practice for attracting,
growing and exiting tenant companies;
the impact of policy and the future of
science parks within the industrial
strategy; and how parks should both
evolve to meet the demands of the
current innovation ecosystem and
present themselves accordingly.
While the process of developing
science and technology parks (STPs)
and sites of innovation varies widely –
both across the UK and internationally –
there are shared characteristics in
operation, and a common purpose: to
grow collaborative activity in a specific
place, and to measure, monitor and
communicate progress of that growth.
Much was said and debated regarding
the effectiveness of communications
strategies deployed by sites, and a need
for improved connectivity across sites and
between sites to aid future collaborations
within the context of Smart Cities and
Tech Cities became apparent. The need
to gather better, more relevant data to
monitor progress and compare site
development is a necessity, to gain
information on what works and how
sites impact their local communities
and the wider economy.
“The importance of place is being
reconsidered,” explained Luiz Sanz, IASP
Director General. “Given the increasing
importance attached to the City, STPs
need to ensure relevance. One way of
doing this is to make sure the City is
aware that the Science Park is able to do
R e a d o n l i n e at: u kspa . or g . u k / b reakt h ro u g h
many of the things that the City wants to
do.” See p79 for further insight from Luiz
regarding international trends.
Branding was also a theme, with Jane
Davies OBE, independent consultant and
UKSPA Companion, presenting a UK
perspective, and asking if enough impact
was being made among those who count.
Clare Jonik from Future Fusion offered
insight into the impact that branding
can have on public perception, and noted
that even the UKSPA brand itself would
benefit from an overhaul. Paul Wright,
UKSPA’s CEO, agreed that the name itself
no longer represented the future vision
of the Association.
KEY INFLUENCES
It was noted that education is often
a driving force. Youngsters and the up-
and-coming generation of entrepreneurs
are a key audience, and partnerships
with Higher Education Institutions can
be crucial to a park’s success. Other
influencing factors included the impact
of the built environment on its occupants
and the surrounding community, and how
design might influence wellbeing.
Emma Jones MBE gave
a lively keynote on how
to encourage innovation
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