.. SCIENCE PARK NETWORKS A report to the European Commission Volume Two .. ' >< .. w Segal Quince Wicksteed Limited ~ tconomic and managemmt consuLtants .. • TABLE OF CONTENTS Country reports • Belgium • Denmark • France • Germany • Greece • Holland • Ireland • Italy • Luxembourg • Portugal • Spain • UK ' Technology demonstration centres study Summary Results of the Postal Survey . .. ·-~·- .. - ~- ~~· ............. ...;,;;;:.· .; ,.;:. .;.:.;.;.: _ -· - BELGIUM .... . .;:. - ~:-.. f~~·;--·- -··-...:..- ~ ~- .... :~e ;:. . - -!" ... .......... .. ........... -- % . .........-...... ::-:~:c::·~ - l!===-===========-====-===-=====-=====-======-==-==-====-----==========--~---====---~.11 ~--:~~~:E_ ........ . --·--·· ·-~---·- ....... ~_.-... " ~-. -~~-· ... -~-··:·~ .. .•. :. ~:·.. •-.· -.. ~~-~-~~~~. ~t:e--1..~~~-: .. .. -·-·-.... -....... _.._. .-. .-_..· ..- , ... _. .... __ ··-: ....: :_!,.§._:~~ I;:·_. ·--·-······-··'-~-- . --..,pik. ....... .. ...-.-...... ... ..,·.:-...~---...=-........:·.-~ _ 1rlo.4·~-· ......... .-.-.- ---~.-..:.. -...·..-.-:·.·.·.~-:..·-,:-·.-.. .~..·~.-.·. ·· -·. ..·.. .. .... . .·..~.:.- -.... ... .. .... ......_.....,~. ~--- _ ~4~~~!--a~~~~-~~--~~ ... .. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BELGIUM • 1 · In 1971, the Government authorised public and private universities to collaborate with local authorities in order to manage industrial areas linked to universities. The flagship decision initiated the technopolitan movement in the ~ountry. 2 There are currently 13 science parks in Belgium, with one still under development. The study reviewed two developments: the scientific park of Louvain-la-Neuve, and the science park cluster in the Bruxelles Metropolitan area (Evere-Bruxelles, Neder Over Heisenbeck, Meylemeersch-Anderlecht and Nivelles) which are connected in a local network named Technopole Bruxelles. 3 The scientific park of Lo_':'vain-la-Neuve is a part of the project of the new town of . Louvain-la-Neuve which was initiated by the Catholic University (UCL) in 1970. The University has 10 faculties and more than 200 research units. In 1992-1_993 research contracts for a total amount of more than SO millions Ecus have been signed with industry. The technology transfer office of the university employs 8 persons. 4 The scientific park is mainly intended for high . technology firms who want to ·collaborate with the university. About 50 companies are currendy working on the park, They have been selected on pre-established criteria by the university. Financial income from the park is entirely reinvested in University Research. The university has also created an incubator for new companies. . A common programme for building an international telecommunications area has been initiated in 1993 with Belgacom. The facilities interest the firms of the park which spend more than 2 million Ecus per year in international communication. Actually, few companies are currently interested in advanced telecommunications services. An open access room dedicated to transmission facilities already exists on the park but it is not often used. A common project o.f teletraining could be operational in 1994 with Louvain-la-~euve and Chareleroi University. ii 5 Technolopole Bruxelles works as an economic development a.gency with decentral~sed bodies, the science parks managers of Evere, Neder-OVer Heisenbeck, Meylenmeersch .Anderlecht and Nivelles. It was created in 1990 with the success of the science p·ark of · Evere. The mission .of Technopole Bruxelles is to develop a scientific and technological environment to attract new companies and to improve global performance of existing companies. The association has a budget of 5 million Ecus and employs 15 persons. Three major tasks have been ·defined: inform SME about research, technological opportunities, public financing, and support transfer of knowledge from universities • set up projects of partnerships in. the fields of food industry, telecommunications, precision instrumen~ and health stimulate international programmes through the UNKOR network created with the technopoles of Montpellier, Nancy, lle de France, Malaga and Casablanca. Telecommunications could be a support to all of these activities: ISDN lines would be useful to transmit information to SMEs; a software might be also useful to facilitate the use of telematics databases new telematics applications might be tested for example in order to stock and share X-Ray photos between hospitals and doctors long distance communications could be useful to support projects of collaborations in LINKOR; databases would also be useful to inform the members . of the network about the core competencies of firms involved in the different science parks. '• .. DENMARK -~ .. -- ... - ... _.. -~. . ·. .:::~::-.~.~~-- -:·:..:..:. .~---:~.·~.-~-. :'-~.-.-:-..:.... . .~...: . ........ - -:- -:..· ~· ... ... --~·~· -~·- ·- -.-... .;_ :-~. ;·.: -. _, .. .., •... .....,.4, ... -.• • ·---..... ·,.!"'--... 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'~"'·"··-·-·.a.;;;.:.o..~.-..-. .... -~,.·•-. ·. .. ,:· .:.1.-.-.. . :._•· .~::--"-"·: ", .'.. .... ..' :.." ..~ ..-. ··~= ~:,.;..- 1 Chapter one INTRODUC'I'ION . . 1.1 There are, at the moment, six Science Parks (SP) in Denmark, all in proximity to a HEL Generally science parks are not seen as a means for development of the regional economy. The Danish government has embarked on a new focus. on SME, which are seen as the means to carry industrial development forward. However, Denmark has one of the lowest start-up rates in Europe. 1.2 SPs have up till now played a little role in this, but the government is working on a new law concerning SP and their role in the Danish industrial scene and in economic development. SPs have played a more important role in being a channel for technology transfer, or in developing practical technical competence (development R&D) . .; Five of the six SPs have aeated a national association of SP managers, (the sixth is not considered to be a real SP because it lacks direct links with a HEI or research establishment). This as~ociation is informal and used for exchange of experience and discussion of common problems/issues. This association is planning to become a member of IASP. The SP which is currently outside the national association is working more as a business park, but is building up its connection with HEI's etc, and has recently established an innovatiolahouse (incubator) for knowledge based companies at Danish Technological University (DlU). 1.4 Foitr Science Parks were visited for this study, two on Zealand and two in Jytland. 19 companies/organisations were visited in connection with the SPs. As mentioned earlier, the science parks in Denmark have not until now received much attention from the government, and the local municipalities or counties have not used SPs as an active part of their regional economic development. The government is about to submit a draft law on science parks but the draft is not appreciated, or as one SP manager described it 'completely useless'. 2 1.5 Municipalities/counties have in all cases supported the SP·with either land, property or by being helpful with planning permission etc., but have otherwise not seen the SP as a part of their economic development strategy. In one case where the county has closer contact with the SP, the county's view on the SP role in the local economy was to create technical competence in the two main industry sectors; electronic (including telecommunication) and material technologies, the county sees as the backbone for economic development in the area. The objective of ~s SP was perceived as being a place for spin-Outs from the local university, both from the HEI and the SP management to commercialise R&D, not so much to create new jobs. Job creation is, C?f course, seen as the positive side effect of the commercialisation. the science park has had projects come from big companies and close down and return when an idea had been developed into a commercial product. 1.6 The infrastructure in Denmark is very developed, \Vith everybody having the ability to have a telephone/fax installed. Similarly ISDN covers Denmark 100°/o, with an installation price of twice a normal telephone line. The telecommunication company (TeleDenmark) had expected to have 20,000 subscribers on ISDN by now, but so far only 3,000 have chosen it. ISDN is today mainly used in the graphics industry for transfer of drawings etc. Denmark has one of the lowest telecommunication tariff in Europe, and Germany has threaten to cut the mobile telecommunication connections to Denmark because the price difference is so big. 1.7 Two of the Science Parks interviewed had direct access to e.mail and InterNet through the local university. All universities in Denmark are linked up to an organisation called UNI•C \\·hich is operating a network (DE-Net) between academics in Denmark. It is possible for an organisation in Denmark to have installed all kinds of company specific telematic networks if the organisation is willing to pay for it. 1.8 Most of the companies perceived their networks (human & telematic) as being sufficient, both with customers and academic/ organisations. All of the companies would, of course, like to find more customers, but finding partners for professional development of their company or product has a much lower priority. Exploring potential needs for further network contacts revealed interest in professional contacts, though with the reservation that a potential telematic network not should be confined to SPs. From discussing networking and linkages, all the respondents argued that face to-face contact is essential to create trust between partners. At the same time many of the respondents were tired of going to conferences which had a useless programme, and little time for what most people attend a conference f~r- to create and maintain network contacts. 3 1.9 ·In order to keep in contact with th7ir customers and professional partners most companies mostly u~es 'normal business communication' (letter, tel/fax) The use of e.mail and other advanced telematic media (huge datatransmission etc) were mostly confined to companies who's staff originated within academia, whereas companies founded by entrepreneurs outside academia knew about the opportunities but did not use them. Academic staff brought the tradition of communicating with e.mail to the companies which often gave the companies worldwide contact and easy access to their linkages and new information. Similarly academics are more used to having international contacts from their research work, which .they continue to use after moving to a private company, giving them a wider contact range~ 1.10 Only a few pec;>ple had tried videoconferencing and only a few private firms/ organisations in Denmark use it regularly. Videoconferencing can be used to maintain contact between partners, but was perceived as unsuited for creating contact, because it is impossible to create a feeling of trust without seeing the other person face-to-face. 1.11 Reactions and potential needs for telematic network between SPs in Europe were extremely varied, from a request to install highspeed datatransmission network tomorrow to a company who did not see any use for it. All people argued when prompted about a network amongst SP that it should not be confined to science parks, but it should be possible to access organisations etc outside the network. 4 .. Chapter Two REGIONAL BACKGROUND (Zealand Denmark) 2.1 This description is cove~g nvo science parks, Symbion in Copenhagen and Forskningscenter ved Hersholm (FvH). The parks were visited in January 1994. 2.2 FvH is located in the North of Zealand, next to a motorway and close to .a railway station. The area has mainly light industry consisting of offices and general businesses industry, but as in many other areas there is a huge surplus of office space. Next to the SP are two very prestigious office buildings with 42,000 free Sqm. 2.3 There is no HEI next to FvH, but they have Danish Technical University (DTU) 10 km down the road. DTU is Denmark's biggest educational institution for civil engineers. Symbion is a similar case, with no HEI close to it. Most of the HEis in Copenhagen are within approx. 15 min. drive from the SP. 2.4 Being located in the capital, Symbion has the biggest concentration of educational and research institutions in Denmark. Most of the bigger companies have representation in Copenhagen. The main focus .of companies within the SP's (bio-technology) is based in and around Copenhagen. 2.5 The main economic players in the region are public administration/ services. and financial services. The medical industry has a strong presence in the region with a company like NOVO NORDISK. 2.6 In Copenhagen, a number of municipalities and counties are currently setting up a new initiative for attracting foreign investment and mobile research projects (domestic and foreign). This initiative is slightly different to those of normal development agencies. The group which consists of five municipalities in the area, is trying to sell projects rather than promote Denmark/Copenhagen as a wonderful place to locate. This is done (or will be) by finding interesting technolog!cal projects, seeking a partner, nationally or internationally and afterwards trying to attract partners to attach to this project. As the initiative has only recently started there is no way to tell whether it is a success, but is certainly an interesting initiative.