Annual Report 2004
| Annual Statistics 2004: figures to year end 2003 (PowerPoint document) I am delighted to report that science parks continue to play a positive role in supporting the growth of technology-related businesses, and hence wealth creation, in the UK. Science Parks are a valuable national asset demonstrated by the following:
We have identified four key areas for the association to address over the next three years:
The use of the term 'science park' is used widely and interchanged with other terminology surrounding incubators, technology parks, and research parks and so on. There is the perception that science parks are property-based initiatives, and that the business support and technology transfer elements so important to tenant growth have in some ways become eclipsed over the last decade. The UKSPA brand is well known and has an inherent value, so must be treated with care. We believe the time is right to enter a period of change whereby the science park brand value is strengthened through associating UKSPA not solely with science parks and property initiatives, but also with the quality of support services delivered to our tenants. Delivery of quality services to tenants and science parks Many science parks within the association deliver high quality business support services to tenants they know, and communicate with, on a daily basis. This is to a great extent borne out by our research. There is the opportunity for UKSPA to become engaged in the promotion or delivery of services to tenants, and we are also attracted to use the critical mass of tenants on science parks to develop a group of purchasing initiative – of value both to science parks and to tenants. Measuring and analysing innovation performance in the UK One of our key assets is the data we hold on science park growth and development over the last 20 years, it provides a valuable historical perspective that exists nowhere else in the world. We intend to improve upon the data sets we currently collect, and analyse. The current data provides some interesting information on the profile of tenants, but it is becoming clear that the RDAs and national government may be attracted to support further work entailing collection and analysis of more extensive data on the performance of technology and knowledge-based firms to inform policy and decision making. Engaging UKSPA in the skills development agenda Research shows that there is a need to increase the number of people with skills in science, technology, engineering and entrepreneurialism. Science parks in the UK have a high density of well qualified scientists and engineers, who potentially have much to offer budding scientists and entrepreneurs of the future. The association is ideally placed to manage a national programme engaging science parks, schools, FE establishments and Universities with the objective of raising awareness, sharing experiences, and encouraging more young people to study science and business. We would like to see our members adopt a national programme of out-of-school hours science projects, mentoring and science clubs to raise aspirations and awareness of the career prospects in the science and technology sector. In conclusion Support from our members remains crucial, as does the funding to deliver a programme of meaningful services to the membership. I am pleased to report that despite the inherent turbulence of a small organisation undergoing staff changes, relocation, and increasing business activity levels, that we managed a balanced budget during the year. The association continues to operate on tight margins, with little financial flexibility. The sponsorship we receive from our commercial sponsors is very welcome, and we are grateful in particular to OFEX, who have continued to give us financial support. During the year, we published three more periodicals Innovation into Success, and increased its circulation to 6000. We redesigned our website, which now has a members’ section with its own search engine, a jobs board, news section, and many other new features. We enjoy heavy traffic through our website with visitors staying on the site for more than 16 minutes. The programme of events and activities that we now have available to members is greater than ever before, and we believe offers value for money for our most important asset – our members. Acknowledgement I am very grateful to UKSPA members, the Board and our many Business Affiliates who have worked with us over the past year. I would also like to extend my thanks to our sponsors for their continuing support, without whom the association would be a much less effective company. Paul Wright September 2004 |