Title: Why firms on science parks should not be expected to show better performance – the story of twelve biotechnology firms

Authors: Richard Ferguson

Addresses: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Economics, S-75007, Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract: This paper investigates growth in employment over a 13-year period in 12 small biotechnology firms, with the purpose of understanding the effects of a science park location on firm development. Findings show that all of the firms experiencing higher-growth moved off of a science park prior to exhibiting high-growth performance. Similarly, all the non-surviving firms with a science park history also relocated off-park prior to their failure. This suggests that we need to look beyond firms| present locations to see the effects of a science park location.

Keywords: science parks; technology-based firms; firm development; firm growth; science park location; employment growth; biotechnology firms; small firms; science park performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2004.005305

International Journal of Technology Management, 2004 Vol.28 No.3/4/5/6, pp.470 - 482

Published online: 20 Sep 2004 *

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