Building STP’s Ecosystem: Kitakyushu Approach - Technopolis: Best Practices for Science and Technology Cities - page 427

4.2.1 Sequence #1: Sectoral Networking for Synchronism
In the planning stage of STP, first, specify some future constituent sectors of the
park. In general, it may consist of academia (university) sector, business (industry)
sector, and administration (government) sector, but it is possible to include
research institute sector, consultancy sector, finance sector, or credit guarantee
sector, etc., on occasion. Second, have the concept of STP jointly with all of
sectors and set the role and vision of sector on STP's ecosystem through debates in
each sector. Then, the concept of STP's ecosystem should be not only suitable the
objective of STP development but also simple to understand. In debates, arrange or
find out some opinion leaders who understand the concept and the objective very
well. They will be trained and should be trained as main players who speaks for
their sector and cooperate with other sectors in knotworking. Third, give a col-
laborative project to each sector on the assumption of the role and vision of sector
on building STP's ecosystem. It is necessary that the project period is short to get
the result within the period time. Of course, let make a report on the result when
the project is finished, and it need to be reflected to the scheme for knotworking of
networks, the next sequence.
4.2.2 Sequence #2: Knotworking of Networks for Synergism
''Knotworking'' means a way to organize and carry out productive activities when
many players need to adjust their own actions mutually in a situation that they
influence each other having the object of their actions jointly (Yamazumi and
Engeström 2008 ). The way of thinking based on the concept of ''knot'' point out
that whereas players or their action systems make just weakly networking, the
performance of their cooperative activities begins to pulsate in haste and has it
jointly, and a kind of ''improvised echo'' appears from it. It is impossible that knot
is changed with something like specific individuals or fixed organizations as
centers of control even though knotworking, in the works through cooperation, is
tied up or untied some times. The type and characteristics of the initiative is going
to change gradually in a series of knotworking because the dynamic horizontal
movement that breaks and crosses the boundary of partition and isolation which is
drawn historically and practically between some different organizations or works
or cultures has come true.
Knotworking of networks is a useful approach in the construction stage of STP.
Until the construction of STP is finished, we may challenge to make knotworking
of networks through joint researches, study groups, and co-hosting of congress and
so on. Then, mentioned above, the main players of knotworking are the opinion
leaders in the planning stage. Based on the understanding about the concept and
objective of building STP's ecosystem, they may try to make knotworking of
networks with others from another sectors (networks) ascertaining and reflecting
the role and vision of sector on building STP's ecosystem. But, because the linkage
of knotworking is very flexible, variable, and weakly, it is difficult to structuralize