Innovations Into Success Summer 2016 | Page 7

UKSPA Directory

Chairman ’ s Introduction

Dr David J Hardman , MBE Chairman of UKSPA
Welcome to the 2016-17 UKSPA Directory , which continues to highlight the growth of the UK Science Park movement . The 82 full members will be added to in the coming years as the 21 fledging locations , currently part of our community as Associate Members , become fully active innovation ecologies .
The stakeholders in our incubators , innovation centres and campuses and science parks continue to become more diverse ; offering ever greater depth and strength to the UKs innovation communities . We are representative of a community of leaders from the public , academic and private sectors that deliver appropriate partnerships and infrastructures to promote the development and success of knowledge-based businesses across all technology-based sectors . Our locations are described as ‘ propertyplus ’ offerings ; an important differentiator for UKSPA members over the more general business parks .
During the last year UKSPA took a fresh look at the data it collects as part of its annual survey of members ; driven by a realisation that the landscape has changed significantly in recent times ; such that there was a danger that the very nature of the survey would mask significant trends within the membership and our communities .
One of the key and important findings when it comes to defining our relevance as catalysts of the UK Knowledge Economy , is that a high proportion have tenants that deliver products and services addressing the Eight Great Technologies and which support UK science strengths and business capabilities as identified in the BIS Industrial Strategies . At a more regional and local level our members have the ability and capacity to influence the innovation supply chain and 93 % of members believe local recognition of their importance as centres for technology and innovation is important .
There are very strong links between members and Universities as 88 % believe that they influence the delivery of technology transfer from the knowledge base to businesses at their locations . Whilst this is apparently recognised as an important function , wider data indicates that only 12 % of businesses actively engage in university ’ R & D activity and indeed most of this engagement is skewed towards larger businesses . This suggests that whilst our locations may be active in this knowledge transfer there is more to be done . This should perhaps require us reaching out beyond our boundaries to proactively engage the wider business communities in these processes , not least because it is recognised that SMEs grow 8 % faster if they do engage with academe .
At a time of localisation agendas , ‘ Powerhouses ’ and ‘ Engines ’ it was interesting to observe that whilst nearly three quarters of our members participate in local committees for business and innovation support programmes , there is less active engagement with the Local Enterprise Partnerships . As the first Innovation and Science Audits are underway , and all that will we hope follow , it does seem that opportunities to connect our locations with regional innovation plans are not always being maximised ?
Given our close links with universities we should also not forget the importance of access to skilled workforces as a , if not the , driver of high growth businesses . This close engagement should also include us actively promoting graduate / postdoc job opportunities , internships and apprenticeships . Thereby making it easier for our tenants to access the skills they need and so attract and capture talent from the region or coming to the region for their university ’ studies . As such this could become another way in which our members are recognized as truly supporting local knowledge economies .
Our Members meetings continue to grow – I hope to see you at an upcoming event and would welcome any suggestions you have to develop our services to members or strengthen our advocacy work .
Dr David J Hardman , MBE Chairman of UKSPA
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