Sector
The Association represents, promotes and supports a diverse network of members that include research campuses, city-based innovation districts, technology incubators and innovation centres across the UK (and beyond). They operate in different areas, with different funding and investment profiles but together deliver enormous added value to companies that occupy space or participate in member activities.
UKSPA’s mission is to support and encourage the growth of Science Parks, Innovation Centres and other Innovation locations.
Through a programme of sharing good practice, networking, communication, research, promotion and advocacy UKSPA membership helps to sustainand develop this vital economic sector.
The UKSPA network of managers, developers, investors, owners and supporting businesses all share a common goal.
This is to create a growing, effective Innovation sector with the right facilities, infrastructure, services and business growth activities for the 6,000 companies and other organisations that they support on a daily basis.
Our Sector
The Innovation locations in UKSPA membership play a critical role in supporting, sustaining and growing knowledge-intensive companies that occupy their space. These occupiers chose to locate in places with the right premises, a flexible and supportive business environment, co-location with other companies and support activities that sustain long term economic growth.Â
Our Members
UKSPA members create, maintain and manage the right locations to allow some of the most innovative, knowledge based companies in the world to thrive and grow. Around 120,000 people are employed on UKSPA member locations delivering significant local, regional, national and international impact.
The UKSPA Story
 Founded in 1984 by the managers of the eight Parks that then existed, UKSPA has gone from strength to strength. In the last thirty years the number of Science Parks has grown significantly (from two in 1982 to around 105 in 2014 and a total today of over 130 locations). 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.
