International models among science parks
Science parks have become a part of modern communities. With science parks in Oxford, Cambridge and Nice setting good examples, a special potential emerged. Countries with a clear research goal are investing in new parks, and in China, the number is growing exponentially.
There are several success stories where a Science Park forms the basis from which small companies can perform research and grow. But a science park is much more than just a collection of rented rooms. To Sven-Thore Holm co-founder of Ideon in Lund, Sweden’s first research park, a science park which includes many processes to ensure maintenance of high standards.
“A park in itself is a venue for companies based on a development process. The important thing is to socialize and live together with other companies. You learn from and inspire each other”, he says.
Sven Thore Holm has over 25 years experience in running research parks.
He was the first leader of Lund Ideon Research Park, and now helps others to achieve the same thing. He believes that a science park is much more than buildings.
“My theory is that a small city with a large university and a large number of sharp minds per square meter make a successful research park. The entire town handles advanced work and characterizes the mental pattern of the city and all the people involved are in a terribly small areas, answering the question as to what creates a successful science park”.
According to him , placing science parks in larger cities could be difficult mainly because people working there wouldn’t be at a coffee break distance for sharing ideas with others.
“The spontaneous meeting doesn’t occur in a major city. In some large urban universities, located in the middle of town, there is no room for research parks. I think proximity is an important factor and meetings should not entail logistical problems where you need to schedule meetings and arrange transportation,” he says.
When Swedish science parks are built today, the parks of Oxford, Cambridge, Groningen in the Netherlands, and North Carolina serve as models. The Oxford Science Park is a joint venture between Magdalen College of Oxford University, and Prudential. Magdalen’s history dates back to 1458, and the first building of the science park was opened in 1991 by Prime Minister John Major.
“Many have certainly been to the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The area was in the midst of a recession but had a strong governor intent on doing something. Three universities in the area started working together and launched a huge project, much better than what you can find anywhere in Europe”, explains Sven-Thore Holm.
The famous science park Sophia Antipolis is located in France. Situated on the French Riviera, the science park has the ideal temperature to attract tenants. The park has a blend of technological and biotech companies, including SAP, Infineon and Honeywell.
The science park in Cambridge has been a model for our Swedish parks. The park, with its 40 years is Britain’s oldest science park and is still owned mainly by Trinity College. Here, 100 companies and 5000 people are housed, including service professions. In similarity with Oxford University, it is internationally known and home to many inhabitants within a small area.
In China, where research parks have been increasing exponentially in recent years, Sven-Thore Holm describes research parks there as pure business hotels. But within 5-6 years they will have developed the associated processes, he believes.
“What they now call a science park in China, we in Sweden call an industrial area. When you ask the Chinese about processes, there are none. It is simply a business hotel, nothing more”, says Sven-Thore Holm.
“It is unwise to run a business in a garage. There is no one to talk to and gain inspiration from. But Ideon provides you with basic services. There are IT telephony conference restaurants and everything you need to meet clients and financers.”
“The park is just a physical area with buildings. It must be built on many other things, which is what I am now teaching, including everything from the necessary political decisions to how universities and colleges are provided raw materials.”
“How to build systems and financial structures during the start up period is also of utmost importance for research parks. It is a question of getteing value for the taxpayers money”, says Sven-Thore Holm.