Science parks in China: a cautionary exploration

Abstract

Science parks have long been in fashion, originally in the US, then in Europe, and now in the rest of the world. They promise much in terms of growth and employment achieved through providing new, high technology companies with an ideal location. Clustered in pleasant surroundings alongside a university or research centre, entrepreneurs are able to transform their ideas into innovations. Yet, despite all the enthusiasm, there is little evidence that science parks work as their supporters say, and growing evidence that they do not. There may be benefits, but perhaps for those who can lay claim to a role in a particular model of innovation, rather than for the firms that occupy the science parks. This paper considers the creation of the Silicon Valley model, and then speculates on the implications for China of its uncritical acceptance in science parks.

Development of Science and Technology Parks in China, 1988–2008

“…Similar concerns exist in China as well. Cao (2004), Macdonald and Deng (2004), and Hu (2007), for example, question whether the STIPs have successfully fostered the on-park firms' innovation capability and the development of the regional economy. The on-park firms have been given a variety of preferential treatments by the government.…”

Place‐based policies, firm productivity, and displacement effects: Evidence from Shenzhen, China

“…In China, the number of science parks has increased dramatically in the last decade, which demonstrates the strong belief in the effectiveness of these policies (Cheng et al, ; Yeung, Lee, & Kee, ; Zeng, ). Yet, with many economic, social, and institutional characteristics differing from those in Western economies, the economic impacts of science‐parks in China and other developing countries are highly doubted and even called “pipedreams” (MacDonald & Deng, ; Rodríguez‐Pose & Hardy, ). On the other hand, especially the case of the Special Economic Zone of Shenzhen (Southern China) and its related clusters and science parks receives attention in debates—it is the prime example of place‐based development policies with positive effects on internationalization, growth, and innovation (Wei, ).…”

Wanxiang Innovation Energy Fusion City: Recommendations for Developing an Innovation Cluster

“…For instance, there are about 160 technology parks in the United States, most of which were set up in the past 40 years (Link and Link, 2003;The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2016 (Macdonald and Deng, 2004;Tamasy, 2007;Wallsten, 2004).…”