Cover
The North East Technology
Specialisation as a
differentiator
Google search “Science Parks Unique”
Unique Science Parks
22/30 are
‘unique’,
one of a
kind?
Compete
Collaborate
OR
North East England Innovation Connector
Programme
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Digital City, Teesside
•
Design Network North, Gateshead
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New and Renewable Energy Centre, Northumberland
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Newcastle Science City (bioscience)
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North East Technology Park (electronics, physics-based)
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Sunderland Software City
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Wilton Centre, Teesside (process)
A coherent offering for the region: property and facilities,
business support, outreach and engagement
NETPark:
Business Durham
• Business Durham is the economic development
company for County Durham, delivering the
environment for business and economic growth.
• Helping businesses to start up/locate here, stay here,
grow here, diversify here.
• NETPark is just one of an integrated portfolio of
Higher
GVA
More businesses Fewer areas of deprivation Higher net disposable income More jobsThe NETPark specialism
2000: Concept Paper
Only refers to “applied research”.
2001: Arthur D Little report on target markets
Sectors should not be specified too finely. Build on strengths of Durham University. Build on wider capabilities of North East. Global technology trends.
Bioscience and biotechnology Polymeric materials
Molecular/nanoscale electronics and photonics
The NETPark specialism
2002: Angle Technology Report (NETPark Incubator)
The importance of a community of interest.
2005: User Policy (planning document)
No intention to restrict activity to certain sectors.
Recognises the blurred lines between Research, Development and Manufacturing.
Crucially: “The focus subsequently adopted for marketing is to be seen as separate from practical restrictions.”
2008: NETPark Advisory Board 2008 recommendation
Focus shifted to electronics:
Establishment of the National Printable Electronics Centre.
North East Innovation Connectors (Software City, Digital City, etc.) Alignment with UK and EU policy.
In practice? 75%
Crystal Growth Group
Electronics
Biotech
NETPark:
being a specialist
beyond the park
“Real innovation comes from bringing together the best thinking of everyone”
Driving European Innovation 2005
Large Corporates Universities SMES Business Success % On-Site Off-Site 2002 80-90% 35-50% Collaboration Support
•Over 350 companies across the County and the North East. •128 direct jobs created and 56 businesses attracted.
•GVA impact of £5 for every £1 invested
•3 graduates from Virtual Office to NETPark tenancy in 2012, including Ibex
Innovations, employing 11 people.
Access to Finance: •NETFunder •Investment readiness assessment • Investment Panel •Workshops Market analysis: •NETIP – IP Landscaping Market access: •NETTender,
•Specialist conferences, e.g. Spacetech •Technology scouts
Support and mentoring:
Expert panel through Affinity Programme
Facilities:
•Virtual Office
•Specialist Equipment database •Networking •Collaboration •Events
•Website •Workshops
JK slide here 19 Aerospace 7 Automotive 20 Biotech 1 Construction 4 Consumer Goods 5 Education & Skills 36 Electronics
40 Energy 20 engineering
4 Finance
2 Food and Drink 4 Process
21 Life Sciences and Healthcare 61 ICT
4 Defence
20 Industrial Products 5 Instrumentation 11 Business Suppport
50 Service (breakdown below)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Message
NETPark – the North East Technology Park – is a world class location for science and technology companies in the UK providing a dynamic and supportive environment to accelerate the growth of ambitious, innovative ,high tech companies into global
markets. NETPark encourages collaborative multidisciplinary links, driving innovation, enterprise and economic prosperity.
NETPark focuses on supporting companies that are developing technology and products, particularly printable electronics, microelectronics, photonics and
nanotechnology, and their application in the fields of energy, defence, and medical-related technologies.
Message
Through the NETPark Net innovation support network and its online platform, we are able to offer a virtual science park to help companies accelerate
growth, improve productivity and become more innovative. Via NETPark Net companies can become part of the innovative, like-minded community at NETPark that enables companies to flourish, grow and compete with the best in the world.
•40,000 people interacted with over 3 years
•Skills development plan for NETPark so it is a “touchpoint” from primary
education to executive education in innovation, commercialisation and STEAM
•Building pride in NETPark as an economic asset for County Durham and a future
career opportunity.
Workshops at NETPark
Science Animators, Summer festival, Recharging the
Earth (SANYO) Teacher CPD: Lumiere,
Gospels, Space
Support for events: BSA, Big Bang etc
To be or not to be a specialist?
Ideon Science Park, Lund, Sweden
Founded 30 years ago to counter the decline of shipping.
Home to 350 companies in telecoms, life sciences, cleantech, ICT and biotech
A more established park, Ideon has moved from technology focus to innovation hub, re-engineering its incubators:
Growth building Service companies Life sciences
Student enterprise
Science parks aren’t always about science and tech parks aren’t always about tech. They’re about businesses and entrepreneurs and supporting them to profitability.
To be or not to be a specialist?
Scion DTU, Horsholm, Denmark
Home to 200 companies over four sites in medicine,
biotech, cleantech and ICT.
A distributed science park, Scion DTU has the ability to
be specialist and generalist. If an area has sufficient
critical mass, awareness and government support, a
site will be established to support it.
To be or not to be a specialist?
For NETPark? Absolutely.
Is a clear differentiator in a crowded market
Enables us to be lean in marketing and promotion Enables “self-selection” by potential tenants
Like attracts like – accumulative effect
Attracts quality, long-term, “weighty” tenants Attracts aligned partners with mutual objectives
Creates a like-minded community with similar aspirations …and a knowledgeable team.
We do not turn people away if they fit with the ethos of a science park
If there is specialisation does it help foster innovation? Are there local
synergies in the value chain or will there cannibalisation and competition?
Times change – science parks walk a tightrope between business needs now and emerging global trends.
