Technology centres and science parks: agents or competence centres for small businesses?
by Erich Staudt, Jurgen Bock, Peter Muhlemeyer
International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM), Vol. 9, No. 2, 1994

Abstract: In the study reported here the Institute for Applied Innovation Research (IAI) has investigated the role of technology centres and science parks in the transfer process between the research and education sector and small businesses, as well as the importance attached to these institutions by its target population. An attempt has been made to answer questions about the conditions in which these institutions operate, the ways in which they perceive themselves, and the extent to which their support policies meet the requirements of a small business. Despite the fact that small firms are crucially dependent on information provision through external sources and that technology centres claim to be able to bridge the (information) gaps experienced by small businesses, they cannot adequately fulfill this role. On the other hand, small businesses give a very detailed picture of the services they need. They expect concrete support measures from technology centres in the area of joint ventures and particularly in technical consultancy. The firms also underscore the need for assistance in the search for a technical infrastructure and know-how within the research and higher education sector. The firms also deplore that research undertaken by universities outside the immediate local environment is not sufficiently transparent for them. As a consequence, firms looking for help either cannot or, worse, will not be passed on to other agencies when these and the local agency are in competition with each other. On the technology centres' side, the scope for identifying the problems experienced by locally based small business by means of visits to the individual companies is limited owing to a lack of personnel and equipment. Furthermore, only if there are qualified and highly motivated staff can such tasks be performed in a professional and competent way. At present there are considerable weaknesses to be observed in this area.

Online publication date: Sat, 23-May-2009

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