Title: Technology districts (TDs) as driver of a knowledge-based development: defining performance indicators assessing TDs' effectiveness and impact

Authors: Antonio Lerro; Francesca A. Jacobone

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, University of Roma 3, Via della Vasca Navale 76, 00146 Roma, Italy ' Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, University of Roma 3, Via della Vasca Navale 76, 00146 Roma, Italy

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the role of the technology districts (TDs) for supporting KBD dynamics and then to provide a set of performance indicators finalised to assessing TDs' effectiveness and impact on these dynamics. After briefly introducing TD notion and discussing theory and practice on the relationships between KBD and TDs, the issues related to the importance to define performance frameworks and indicators assessing TDs' effectiveness and impact are analysed and discussed. Then, the performance prism is introduced and adopted as working framework leading the design of the set of specific TDs' performance indicators. The key contribution of this paper is to support policy-makers on a research-and-practice-based comprehension of TDs as drivers of a KBD as well as to advice on TDs performance measures.

Keywords: technology districts; knowledge-based development; KBD dynamics; performance indicators; policy implications; effectiveness; impact; performance measures.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2013.055883

International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 2013 Vol.4 No.3, pp.274 - 296

Received: 28 Sep 2012
Accepted: 11 Apr 2013
Published online: 31 Mar 2014 *

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