UKSPA Directory
UKSPA and the Science , Innovation and Incubation Sector
Membership
If you have responsibility for the support of knowledge-based companies then you should be a member of UKSPA .
Full Members : Science Parks , Incubators , Innovation Centres , Innovation Led Incubators , Research Parks , Technology Parks , Technology Centres and Technopoles .
Associate Members : Organisations developing or operating an innovation-based park , centre or incubator that does not currently meet Full membership criteria .
Business Affiliates : Organisations which have an interest in the Association or science parks in general and co-operate with the Association and its members in pursuit of its objectives .
Overseas Members : Innovation-based Parks operating in countries outside the UK who wish to have direct membership of UKSPA .
Affiliate Members : Networks and other organisations whose objectives and activities have common ground with those of the Association .
Innovation Locations
The United Kingdom Science Park Association ( UKSPA ) was set up 30 years ago as an independent association for the first generation of science park managers , to enable them to meet and support each other as their parks developed and the needs of their tenant companies diversified . From 1984 through to today the membership has grown steadily from 5 to its current level of nearly two hundred members representing every aspect of today ’ s innovation ecosystem . including technology consultants , legal , financial and business advice . Services might include :
• networking events , professional services workshops and courses
• commercial counselling through mentors who have experience and skills in the commercial development of early-stage highgrowth businesses
• innovation and enterprise events focusing on the needs of knowledge-intensive , high-growth potential businesses
• support to develop academic links , including assistance in identifying and liaising with sources of technology in research establishments .
Building the pipeline
UKSPA members create the ideal structured environment in which innovation-based startups can grow to their true potential from day one to a fully-fledged business .
Over recent years an increasing number of Innovation - led Incubators have become members of UKSPA and the Association is increasingly addressing the management and activities of the whole ecosystem from Incubators to Innovation Centre ’ s to few / single occupancy buildings across parks , suburban and urban innovation centers .
Many of our members also support ‘ virtual tenants ’. Offering virtual tenant services increases income , creates a pipeline of prospective new tenants , sells the park ’ s services to a wider audience than housed within the physical buildings , increases the use of meeting rooms and raises the profile of the park .
The service can be used as part of a transition process into actual space which is especially relevant where the park is accommodating pre-and full incubation stages . Inward investors can be attracted by the offer of virtual space as a base without having to make a large investment , and having virtual tenants can provide a critical mass for developing services .
Specialist Facilities
Our members provide specialist space and specialist support services . Space might include : incubation facilities , co-location with a research establishment , labs for research in both chemistry , biology and engineering , meeting rooms and conference rooms , video conferencing facilities , reception with telephone answering service and refreshment areas , telecoms offering , a security offering , university campus-type facilities such as bank and shops and creche / nursery .
Services to Tenants / Clients
Business acceleration services provided to tenants aim to create a supportive environment where companies can develop the commercial elements of their business opportunity . This professional support is provided peer-to-peer by the managers of the centres and through connections to the business and professional services community
Commercialisation
Commercialisation of research is successful when people and organisations collaborate effectively . UKSPA supports this process by encouraging membership from stakeholder organisations who are essential links-in-the-chain for companies when they are starting out , developing and growing . Organisations joining the Association whose objectives and activities have common ground with those of UKSPA are categorised as Business Affiliate members .
Raising the overall level of demand by businesses for research from all sources has been identified as the key issue affecting UK and European competitiveness . The gap between Europe ’ s economy and that of the USA and Japan is growing and although it is the job of the entrepreneur to innovate it is the stakeholders and decision makers who can make a huge contribution to ensuring conditions are more conducive to the growth of enterprises .
The high-tech , high-growth sector
UKSPA ’ s members work hard to support the high-tech , high-growth , knowledge-based sector . The companies on our member parks are the innovators and entrepreneurs of today . Our membership represents just about every field of scientific discovery and commercialisation
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