Science and Technology Parks — Are They Relevant Today?

Abstract

The old model of the science park is characterized as a ‘stand-alone’ low-density development on a remote greenfield site. As such, it fails to address the contemporary needs of business, education and society. The author describes a new generation of parks that is moving back towards the city centre and addressing the critical new priorities of compactness, accessibility, diversity and flexibility. He argues that the parks of the future will need to respond dynamically to changing patterns of work and life styles. To succeed, science parks must now become ‘science communities' and respond to a combination of business, educational, social and environmental needs. Extending this concept into the future, he envisages a shift from ‘park’ to ‘precinct’, an innovation-oriented community that provides a focus for the synergistic linking of high-technology businesses, schools, universities, and the broader community to sustain continuous learning in an entrepreneurial culture.