Paul Wright Chief Executive United Kingdom Science Park Association

Presentation Outline UKSPA -Background & Context Science Parks in the United Kingdom UKSPA & Quality Accreditation -UKSPA ASPECT -UKSPA ASPIRE

The UK context Over 26 years experience Much international activity Our respective Science Parks have grown and matured Innovation is central to government policies on economic growth Quality and continuous improvement is at the heart of UKSPA’s strategy

What is a Science Park? “A property based initiative however named or designated which has formal or operational links with a University, other higher educational institute or major centre of research or technology, is designed to encourage the formation and growth of knowledge based businesses and other organisations normally resident on site, and has a management function which is actively engaged in the transfer of technology and business skills to the organisations on site”.

Number of UKSPA Science Parks © 2011 UKSPAAnnual Statistics

Number of Tenant Companies © 2011 UKSPAAnnual Statistics

Where are they? © 2011 UKSPA

Where are they? © 2011 UKSPA West Midlands East Midlands – Nottingham Cambridge The Edinburgh “Science Triangle” Oxford London and the South East These clusters account for 50 % of UKSPA Member Parks

What size are they? © 2011 UKSPA Colworth Science Park Unilever sq ft Wellingborough Innovation Centre 6,000 sq feet

Which sectors? © 2011 UKSPAAnnual Statistics

Stakeholders / Partnerships

UK Science Parks & Quality Different partners and stakeholders Different objectives / purpose Is it possible to define standards? Is it appropriate to implement a quality accreditation scheme? “When you have seen one science park, you have seen one science park”

Science Park or Business Park? © 2011 UKSPA

UKSPA ASPECT A tool to assess the profile of an SP Used by UKSPA to undertake initial assessment of SP’s Used by parks to determine relative strengths and weaknesses Many used the tool to create a SP development / improvement plan Scoring mechanism, although a largely qualitative tool

ASPECT Structure Contextual & Background Information -A Scale of Park -B Strategy / Governance -C Policy / Objectives of Park -D Services / Amenities available -E Business Support Services -F Innovation Support Processes -G Premises Offer -H Results Concluding Observations

From ASPECT to ASPIRE UKSPA Board agreed that a “quality standard” be developed From internal to external review That Science Parks achieving a standard should be recognised / rewarded Recognise immense variation How? By developing an intellectual framework....

The relationship between inputs and outputs

Pre-requisites for a successful Science Park development

Science Parks and the Business / Property life cycle

Knowledge Economy Characteristics

Economic Impact Number of start-ups newly accommodated Employment growth performance Property performance indicators -Rental levels -Occupancy levels –void rates -Asset value Survival rates, patents filed, R&D spend, funding raised, licensing activity, value of firms etc. etc.

Enhanced Asset Value Science Parks focus on the traditionally challenging sector of the occupier market -Short and variable leases -Occupiers with weaker covenants -Occupiers need higher levels of service and support -High occupier turnover

An effective Science Park addresses these challenges... Improved attractiveness to tenants Higher occupancy than business park Tenants less likely to fail -And in turn this makes SP’s more attractive in market conditions which: Drive shorter lease lengths Increase tenant volatility Increase the demand for serviced space

ASPIRE Principles Continuous Improvement Reviews each Science Park in it’s own context Confidential process between Reviewer and Science Park Not a “public” commitment to the process Creates case studies and good practice to disseminate throughout UKSPA

Extract from the Reviewer Guide

2012 –Where are we now? ASPIRE Client Guide ASPIRE Reviewer Guide 4 licensed Reviewers Pilot testing of the framework –June 2012 Roll-out 1st Accreditation award –September 2012 International potential

Thank you