About UKSPA

The mission of UKSPA is to be the authoritative body on the planning, development and the creation of Science Parks that are facilitating the development and management of innovative, high growth, knowledge-based organisations.

A Science Park is a business support and technology transfer initiative that:
  • encourages and supports the start up and incubation of innovation-led, high-growth, knowledge-based businesses.
  • provides an environment where larger and international businesses can develop specific and close interactions with a particular centre of knowledge creation for their mutual benefit.
  • has formal and operational links with centres of knowledge creation such as universities, higher education institutes and research organisations.
The UKSPA Strategic Plan
UKSPA developed a strategic business plan for 2004-07 which was agreed by the UKSPA Board in March 2004. This plan was developed by taking into consideration the findings and recommendations of the report Evaluation of the Past and Future Economic Contribution of the UK Science Park Movement and the subsequent actions agreed at the UKSPA Members' Meetings.

To view a Summary of Strategic Business Plan March 2004 click here.

Key People
The following names you will see are the key people in UKSPA. The links will take you to individual biographical information detailing the wealth of experience and expertise they have to offer for the development and management of innovative, high growth, technology-based businesses.

Current Board

Paul Wright
Chief Executive
Jane Davies
Chairman
Malcolm Parry OBE
Vice Chairman
Paul Carver
Treasurer & Secretary

Tim Bacon
Director
Lesley Evans
Director
Nina Sarlaka
Director
George Walker
Director

Membership Manager
Jim Duvall

Administrator
Austin Buckeridge


The History of UKSPA
Founded in 1984 by the managers of the eight Parks that then existed, UKSPA has gone from strength to strength. In the last twenty years the number of science parks has grown significantly (from two in 1982 to approximately 100 in 2002). There is still a strong regional, and local focus to their establishment. What has continued to happen over the years is that many more UK Universities and centres of excellence in research have recognised the unstoppable trend, and inherent value of science park development and have created parks with associated management structures to help drive and technology up the value chain by supporting tenant companies across a wide range of activities. >> Read more