- R. B. Mellor, Computing & Maths, Kingston University, London.
Knowledge-sharing in the development of Science and Technology Parks
Tech Entrepreneurship is of immense value in regional development and the national economy. Tech
Entrepreneurship is partly dependent on economically sheltered environments known as Science
and Technology Parks (STPs), who actively seek innovators and also encourage innovation amongst
the constituent firms, including by networking and knowledge spill-over between the inhabitants,
Universities and sources of capital. The low success rate (~20%) of STPs led us to use the ideas of
Stiglitz to investigate how STP architecture can best cope with a changing and challenging innovation
environment, through start-up to early maturity and full maturity.
Results from using econometric methods (SEM, Monte-Carlo etc) show that it is very beneficial to
have a central Cluster Initiative (CI) controlling the decision-making process (“star, hierarchy”) in the
early stages of STP development, where potential gains and losses are relatively modest. However in
the early maturity stage with commitment to a high-growth trajectory, a high quality of
decision–making is required amongst managers and decisions are best taken by the CI with the input
of more knowledgeable on-cluster firms. The situation where CI is supported by good-quality
knowledge-sharing decisions from on-cluster firms – an ambidextrous situation – is superior when
good innovations abound and the STP has acquired some maturity. However, in environments with a
surfeit of poor-fit innovations, this becomes a high-risk strategy with high potential losses and
indeed in this situation, retaining a hierarchical (CI only) decision process is most helpful, even when
the quality of decision–making amongst CI managers is as poor as coin-flipping.
To summarise, STP development from small is not linear but Y-shaped: A successful strategy involves
the start-up STP attracting enough small innovative firms which – in turn – attract larger firms, whose
detailed sector-relevant insight improves CI decision-making. The most valuable ratio includes the CI
and only any two of the larger firms; including more decision-makers does not improve the quality of
decisions much but does drive the transaction costs up exponentially. If the STP cannot attract larger
firms with experienced management, then the STP is best served with the CI continuing alone but,
especially under conditions of growth and expansion, the cost of poor decisions will increase until
eventually market failure ensues.
2) Dr. Nadir Kolachi – University of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Different theories, emerging concepts and diversified applications in modern education (A case of evaluations & recommendations)
The speech will cover different theories being taught at Business schools, emerging concepts that are interlinked with other disciplines and diversified applications in modern educational system around the world. The speech will also cover the digital integration in modern education. The speech will focus on the following parameters that are required by educators, policy makers and scholars around the world.
- Contents & Contexts
- Theories & Concepts
- Practical Corporate methods
- Technology integration in learning
- Interdisciplinary Industry linkages & curriculum collaboration
- Professional development with ethical sense of care & ownership
More details will be added in the speech by way of mini cases, charts and discussions.
3) Dr. Vinod Chopra – Goodwill Cryogenics, Mumbai, India.
“A Scientist’s Views on how to improve Economy of Developing Countries”
Detailed outline to be added soon,
4) Dr John Edwards – FORS, FHEA. Professor. Emeritus Professor, Operations & Information Management ·- Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
Knowledge: the ultimate intangible?
Detailed outline to be added soon,