Abstract:

Science and Technology Parks (STPs) are complex knowledge organizations with wide-ranging objectives. They foster technology transfer, research-based industrial innovation, economic growth, and international competitiveness. However, the use of the term STP is not always aligned with the type of on-site activities occurring in them. This inaccuracy devalues the real potential and purpose of Science Parks (SP) because their value-added benefits and positive impact become less apparent to policy makers and companies. To address the problem, this work considers SPs as a type of STP, where the university plays a central and crucial role. Bridging the gap between industry and academe is a key determinant of effective SP models. A systematic review of the state-of-the-art literature on Science Parks is presented. The literature review is followed by a re-evaluation of the terminology and a discussion of strategic University-Science Park collaboration. A review of STP typologies with the essential criteria for STP classification is also presented. The importance of the study is that it provides a better understanding of the types of STPs and helps to avoid inaccuracy of terms, which is important for clarification and for the development of suitable policies that encourage them.

Keywords:

Technology Transfer, Innovation, Science Park, University-industry cooperation.