Role of Universities in Contributing Towards Science and Technology Park Development: A Framework of Critical Success Factors - Technopolis: Best Practices for Science and Technology Cities - page 291

1 Introduction
Link and Scott ( 2003 ) observe that there is broad recognition that Science and
Technology Parks (STPs) are effective vehicles for promoting new technology-
oriented firms, facilitating the commercialisation of scientific research and revi-
talising regional economies—critical objectives in the pursuit of the sustainable
development of economies, especially for developing countries which have to play
catch up with advanced economies. Hence, STPs are the perfect habitat for
businesses and institutions of the global knowledge economy (IASP 2011 ).
In the past two decades or so, there has been increasing interest in many
countries in promoting the formation and development of national STPs. This
follows the establishment of the first STP in the U.S.A. in 1951, followed by the
first European STP in 1972. STPs in the Asia Pacific region started to emerge since
the early 1980s (Zhang 2002 ). Inevitably, the increasing number of STPS has
appeared under different names and physical manifestations.
The IASP reports that, worldwide, the rate at which STPS have been established
rose 11 % between 1980 and 1984, increased by 23 % from 1985 to 1989 and
between 2000 and 2006, rose by 26 %. Clearly, this shows an upward trajectory in
the establishment of STPS. China, which has been at the forefront of the estab-
lishment of STPs in recent years, established its first STP in Beijing Zhongguancun
in 1988. The STPs had ballooned to 54 national by 2007 (Zhang and Sonobe
2011 ).
Zimbabwe is emerging from a debilitating economic crisis and a brain drain
that has created problems for the country's science and technology development.
Despite these challenges, the country has adopted a national economic develop-
ment strategy that adopts STPs as vehicles of economic development. For
example, the country has plans to develop information and communications
technology (ICT) STPs with a bias supporting software development and large-
scale assembly of electronic products by 2012 (Zimbabwe MTP 2011 ).
The adoption of STPs in Zimbabwean universities is still at the formative and
experimental stage. What can the universities do to ensure that they establish
successful STPs? In other words, what are the critical success factors for STPs in
Zimbabwean universities? Focusing on universities in Zimbabwe, the purpose of
this study is to develop from extant literature the role of universities and critical
success factors for the establishment of successful STPs. The findings and analysis
of this study are expected to accelerate the establishment and operations of STPs in
the country.
This chapter is organised into four sections. Section 1 provides an introduction
to the study. Section 2 briefly explores key theories and empirical findings on
STPs. Section 3 proffers a conceptual framework of critical success factors for the
establishment of successful STPs that are sustainable. Section 4 concludes the
study.