A Typology of University Research Park Strategies: What Parks Do and Why it Matters

Abstract

A growing body of research examines whether and how university research parks (URPs) enhance the performance of their tenants, and foster regional innovation. As the findings in the literature are inconclusive, we argue that the URP construct requires closer conceptual examination, especially in regards to URP strategies. This paper highlights the limitations of treating URPs homogenously and theorizes how URPs’ strategies vary and arise. We develop a conceptual model, a typology, of four types of URP strategies to show how URP strategies can vary in theoretically important ways to generate URP internal and external strategic fit.

Keywords: university research parks; strategic fit; innovation; incubation; start-ups; science parks; research parks; accelerators; biotechnology

JEL Classification: M