Workshop: The Future of Science Parks

Time: May 29 2011, 16.00-17.30

Science Parks (SPs) can facilitate the linkages between public actors, large companies, SMEs, and university researchers & students by providing a platform for exchange and transfer of knowledge and technology. It is clear that there are many ways to design and develop science parks and there are just as many bad as there are good examples. Many regions have a flora of SPs that usually operates under different conditions, have different priorities, and take on different roles. Many of their offered service are also overlapping and there is sometimes a lack of a strategic regional support.

Västra Götalandsregionen, Chalmers Industriteknik and Johanneberg Science Park is about to launch a new project called Next Generation Science Park, which aims to find an approach to a regional SP system, and to also identify and implement good practices that can be used by individual SPs. The project is financed by the EU and includes partners from the UK, Germany, Poland and Italy.

The CIP FORUM workshop constitutes the first of many events in this 2-year project and we would like to highlight some of the aspects we consider to be key in order to build a successful and dynamic Science Park that can contribute to regional growth. To this end, we will have a workshop approach that mixes presentations and open discussions and we will specifically focus on questions such as:

- How can SPs attract SMEs to take active part in SP activities and projects, in order to create mutual benefits for both SME’s and other SP stakeholders?

- How can regional authorities strategically govern a group of Science Parks?

Everybody who is interested in the development of science parks will benefit directly from this experience exchange workshop and will also have a chance to actively participate in the discussions. We will share and discuss strategies, models and tools for building successful Science Parks!

Moderator: Andreas Norgren, Project Manager, Chalmers Industriteknik

Speakers:

• Benny Johansson, Business Developer, Gothia Science Park
• Björn Westling, Project Manager, Swerea IVF
• Mats Bergh, CEO, Johanneberg Science Park
• Magnus Lundin, CEO, Swedish Incubators and Science Parks
• Marika Hellqvist Greberg, Project Manager for Innovationssluss, Research and Development in Västra Götaland regional secretariat