The Technology Parks are one of the new model of clusters; they can be considered a tool to develop a municipality, region.
The Government of Aragon, launched in 2002 the Walqa Technology Park, located in the city of Huesca, the second city of the region of Aragon which has only 50,000 inhabitants. In 201:the park has a total surface of 53 hectars and there had been a total investment of 80 million Euros, had 65 technology-based companies and 850 jobs. Counting with an average age of 31 years and 74% of university graduates.
-Walqa Tech Park, specialized in three sectors: ICT, Biotechnology and Renewable Energy and comprise a mix of multinational companies, national, regional, local companies, entrepreneurs, research centers, and the University Tech Centers.
It is very important to plan critical aspects for the implementation of a technology park as:
- Urban Planning / Infrastructure Development
- Financial aspects of implementation and economic sustainability
- Attracting multinational Strategy
- Tools local business growth
- The roll of the university, technology centers and the Research and Development Centers
- How to integrate the park in the economic ecosystem
- The synergies between the companies installed
- Programs incorporating companies of young talent
- The roll of the municipality and region
- The transfer of knowledge
- Think about the real state risk
Resources needed
At the end of the first 10 years and after an investment of 60 million Euros it had 65 tech-based companies installed More than 800 jobs and 70% university graduates and an average age of 32 years. Private-Public coordination:regional Banks-government-University.
Evidence of success
The Walqa Technology Park located in the city of Huesca, a city with 50,000 inhabitants, was launched in 2002. At the end of the first 10 years and after an investment of 60 million Euros it had 65 technology-based companies installed Which generated more than 800 jobs and 70% of university graduates and an average age of 32 years.
The Park has a mix of start up, local companies, multinationals, technology centers and university.
Difficulties encountered
The difficulties encountered were as follows:
- Find leadership and political involvement for its start-up and growth
- It is a project in which learning by doing is basic
- Financial strategy
- Involvement of society
- Communication strategy
Potential for learning or transfer
The most relevant aspects to be transferred are:
- Lessons Learned in Management
- How to define a road map for the implementation of the project
- Identify the business model
- See the economic sustainability of the company that manages the Technology Park
- Identify the balance between multinationals, local and multinational companies
- Planning services that allow companies to grow in the ecosystem
- Avoid becoming an isolated entity in society
- Planning international alliances
- Exchange experiences in urban development
- How to join the IASP, International Association of Technological and Scientific Parks.
In definitive lay the solid foundations so that Potentials interested regions of this project have a case of success, that helps them to define their business case.
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Tags: Support, SME, ICT