International Association of Science Parks

A Science park, University research park, or Science and Technology park refers to an assigned area designed to promote innovation. It is a place that supports university-industry and government collaboration with the intent of advancing knowledge and promoting technological and economic developments. There are many approximate synonyms for "University research park", Science park, (Science or) Technology park, Technopolis and Biopark. The appropriate term typically depends on the type of affiliation the parks has with an institution of higher learning and research, as well as the type of science or technology involved.

These parks differ from typical high-technology business districts in that university research parks and science and tech parks are more organized, planned, and managed. They differ from science centres in that they are a place where research is commercialized. Typically, businesses and organizations in the parks focus on product advancement and innovation as opposed to industrial parks that focus on manufacturing and business parks that focus on administration.

The parks offer a number of shared resources, such as incubators, programs and collaboration activities, uninterruptible power supply, telecommunications hubs, reception and security, management offices, restaurants, bank offices, convention center, parking, internal transportation, entertainment and sports facilities, etc. In this way, the park offers considerable advantages to hosted companies.

Science and technology parks are supported by universities in order to bring in an industry with which they can collaborate and by local government in order to improve the prosperity of the community. Incentives to attract companies to the area are often offered as part of the entire package.

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