Article: Technology centres and science parks: agents or competence centres for small businesses? Journal: International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM) 1994 Vol.9 No.2 pp.196 - 212 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. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Technology centres and science parks: agents or competence centres for small businesses?

Authors: Erich Staudt, Jurgen Bock, Peter Muhlemeyer

Addresses: Chair for Labour Economy, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Applied Innovation Research (IAI), Bochum e.V., Buscheyplatz 13,44801 Bochum, Germany. ' Manager of the Institute for Innovation Advice GmbH, Dusseldorf, Germany. ' Manager of the Institute for Applied Innovation Research (IAI), Bochum e.V., Germany

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.

Keywords: information transfer; innovation problems; innovation process; science parks; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; technology centres; technology transfer; technology management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1994.025570

International Journal of Technology Management, 1994 Vol.9 No.2, pp.196 - 212

Published online: 23 May 2009 *

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Title: Technology centres and science parks: agents or competence centres for small businesses?

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