Cooperation of German, Swedish and Polish technology parks

Technology parks – regional centers of entrepreneurship and innovations

Cooperation between local/regional government, academics and industry (Triple Helix Model – (THM) is an important factor in a process of Science & Technology Parks innovative activity development .
Technology Parks are institutions, which were formed to support entrepreneurships in their growth, mainly because of intensified knowledge and technology flow between science entities and entrepreneurs. Parks provide their tenants infrastructure (office area, laboratories) and services, which enable simpler operating and commercialization of innovative business ideas. Parks are also essential regional institutions of entrepreneurship support as they connect business, science and government. They offer their services to experienced businesses, as well as they support newly formed companies, through Business incubators, which simplify their first steps in business.

Benchmarking of the technology parks in the South Baltic Region

One of the initiatives concentrating on the subject of entrepreneurship and innovation support is “Benchmarking of the technology parks in the South Baltic Region”. The aim of the study was, among others, to increase international cooperation of SME sector and strengthen its economic potential  and competitiveness due to cooperation of Science and Technology Parks, as well as other business environment institutions. The uniqueness of the undertaking consists of comparison of characteristics, potential and conditions of development of five Technology Parks (including one German, three Polish and one Swedish). The leader of the Project is the Municipality of Elblag, where Elblag’s Technology Park has lately begun its activity. Parks – partners of the Project – consist of Gdańsk Science and Technology Park (Gdańsk, Poland),  Pomeranian Science and Technology Park  (Gdynia, Poland), Technologiezentrum Vorpommern, (Greifswald, Germany) and Videum Science Park (Vaxjö, Sweden). The Project has been executed by the Consortium of DS Consulting Ltd. (the consortium leader) and Kantor Management Consultants Ltd.

“Benchmarking of the technology parks in the South Baltic Region” has been executed within the international DISKE Project – Development of Innovative Systems through Knowledge Exchange, co-financed by the European Union from the South Baltic Cross – Border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013. Due to implementation of this international undertaking, an institutional and personal net of contacts between Parks – partners of the Project, as well as other institutions supporting entrepreneurship, was developed. It also creates a possibility of increase in cooperation between companies within the South Baltic Region,as well as of access of innovational technological solutions and international promotion. Entrepreneurs co-operating or wanting to cooperate with different companies from the South Baltic Region, as well as all DISKE PROJECT partners, can contact the international DISKE office in Gdynia (in Pomeranian Science and Technology Park) or office in Elblag (in Elblag’s City Hall)

The Project has been divided into three different components: Case Studies of best practices European technology parks operation, Benchmarking study and study of development needs of R&D units and innovational companies and Benchmarking study of technology parks participating in the Project. Such a complex approach let us elaborate recommendations for technology parks and participants of the entrepreneurship support in the researched areas – says Grzegorz Tomaszewski, expert and Project coordinator.

Among fifteen distinguished examples of best European practices, most attention is deserved by experience of Kerry technology Park, which in exemplary way integrates pro-innovative activity of the local government, neighbouring university and business. Cooperating partners assume, that only joint, implemented continuously and in active way activities, can be effective for sustainable growth of economy and a region.
Interesting conclusions can be drawn from the realization of the component connected with the research study of development needs of R&D units and innovational companies. Entrepreneurs and R&D units treat mutual cooperation differently. Companies expect measurable results, which implementation will result in business effect, whereas R&D units appreciate above all scientific results of cooperation. To some extent it results from ascendency of R&D financing from public funds. Certainty and security of such funds can be a restriction in activity in research implementation, which could be a subject of further commercialization. Another researched area was the scope of cooperation of business and technology parks. Conclusions are that in the South Baltic region entrepreneurs are conscious about existence of technology parks in their regions, although not always know their offer and possibilities of cooperation. Entrepreneurs appreciate access to modern park’s infrastructure,  professional help in their companies development, access to new technologies and information, as well as gaining network of business and scientific contacts.
Benchmarking study, as another component of the Project was concentrated on analysis of activity of five parks participating in the Project. Each park was evaluated in respect of fields, in which they do not outstand from best examples; and disciplines, which support can enhance potential of parks. In the opinion of Michael Kubik, an expert participating in the project, despite large differences in development of German, Polish and Swedish economies, there are many common challenges in parks’ activity located in those countries. Examples include: preparation of the optimal offer or care for high competencies of park’s staff, what affects the quality of cooperation with tenants. It comes out mostly out of the universality of companies’ developmental needs – regardless nationality, those needs are very similar.

Study Tours – Triple Helix Model in practice

Completed within the Project Study Tours in Sweden and Ireland were aimed primarily to disseminate effectively applied in those countries good practices Triple Helix Model in Polish conditions. Model solutions of THM used by exemplary Science and Technology Parks, public administration and schools from the Baltic Region can improve competitiveness of the companies, regions and structures of the economies of countries embraced by the Project. Within the project 2 study tours in technology parks were carried out, which indicate high efficiency and quality of activities supporting entrepreneurship.

First Study Visit took place in Sweden – a country, which next to Finland, Denmark and Great Britain belongs to the leaders in innovations in the European Union. Participants of the visit had an opportunity to learn closer method of organization and activity of Swedish Science Parks in Goteborg, including Lindholmen Science Park, Sahlgrenska Science Park and Johanneberg Science Park. It was also an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the schools’ representatives - Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship, incubator – Chalmers Innovation Business Incubator, business environment institutions – GU Holding and company cooperating with Science Park - Alvstranden Utveckling.

Another visited country was Ireland, where participants met representatives of Kerry Technology Park and National Technology Park in Limerick. Hosts pointed, that entrepreneurship support by Technology Parks is a long lasting process directed not only on providing development conditions for parks’ tenants. Thanks to cooperation webs with local governments and academics, technology parks affect whole economy of the region, including labour market and level of competitiveness of companies.

Within the report ending the Project, several dozen of recommendations concerning technology parks were presented. Participants of the Project encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the result of the study, to take part in the competition and to obtain more information about the effects of works within the DISKE Project on the website www.diskeproject.eu, where anyone can find presentation and general report consisting all information regarding the Project.