Welcome
Keeping one step ahead
of a changing future
UKSPA Chairman Dr David Hardman MBE looks at the future of urban
populations, and wonders if the landscape is set to significantly change
for science parks over the next two decades…
I
n 2001, 82% of the UK population
lived in an urban setting, a figure that
is set to rise to 92% by 2030. At the
recent conference in York, I talked
about the impact this will have on the
future location and operation of science
parks and areas of innovation.
The model for nearly all science
parks today is based on passive, defined
geographies that create sector-focused,
localised hot-spots of critical mass.
Within the UK, most of these are in
rural or suburban settings. Arguably
science park offerings today are based
on the lifestyles of Generation Y.
However, the 24/7 live-work-play
aspirations of the digitally-innate
Generation Z entrepreneurs defines
our future clients. Our offerings will
change to create technology-enabled
environments that are driven by
communities of interest, and given that
most of our clients will live in cities by
UKSPA
The United Kingdom Science
Park Association, Chesterford
Research Park, Little Chesterford,
Essex CB10 1XL
T: 01799 532050
[email protected]
ukspa.org.uk
then, the future innovation ecologies
will be integrated into cities. This is
a significant shift from the current
situation where, on the basis of area,
most science parks lie outside cities.
One can foresee that science parks
centred on highly valued and costly
facilities will successfully continue
to operate outside cities, but the main
driving force for new forms of innovation
will be city-based. Those outside cities
will be connected to city-based locations
via gigabit connectivity, so borderless
communities can access the facilities.
With data being the main outcome and
value, it can be transmitted anywhere
to be interpreted and processed into
commercial value.
Look to the future now
Cultivating the Generation Z appeal will
promote innovation and populate the
places we traditionally call science parks.
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But for UKSPA to remain relevant,
should it look beyond the current
stakeholders and consider the
possibilities of the future? Perhaps the
International Association of Science
Parks (IASP) has pointed the way,
through the inclusion of Areas Of
Innovation in its remit. With that in
mind, should UKSPA actively engage
and promote urban knowledge quarters,
work more closely with Regional Mayors,
Devolved Administrations, Power
Houses/Engines, Local Enterprise
Partnerships and city administrations?
They say that ‘it’s all in a name’. So is
UKSPA the right name for us looking to
the future? Does the organisation also
need to move with the times? ■
All comments and feedback should be
forwarded to the UKSPA team:
[email protected]
Breakthrough is published on
behalf of UKSPA by Future Fusion,
a division of Future Publishing Ltd.
Registered office: Quay House,
The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA.
No part of this publication may
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the consent of UKSPA.
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