Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Molecular Physiology as a typical example. This center was built in three steps
between 2002 and 2009 with an investment of nearly €60 Mio and provides
space of 15 000 m
2
in total with 8,000 m
2
designed as laboratories.
In 2005 and 2007 the MST.factory dortmund was opened, offering 10,000 m
2
total and absorbed investments of approximately €50 Mio. This center is supple-
mented by a Center for production technologies, constructed in 2008 with half of the
previous investment. It is interesting to note that both centers are located on so-called
''brown fields,'' previously the site of the last Dortmund steel mill. Building the new
economy on the sites of an old industry is a contribution to urban development.
Moreover, it vividly displays the rise of a new economy in the city and region.
It is important to note the Technology Center, is successful despite the fact that
it is run as a private company. Tenants in the Technology Center and other Centers
enjoy the provisions of high-tech infrastructures and the general assistance from
the centers, even though they have to pay high rents. The fact that this concept is
working successfully is a proof of the quality of the services offered, and of the
perceived advantages it brings to those companies that make use of them.
4.6 Economics Effects
''Governmental investments into the future of a region-pushing economy in the right
direction or wasting tax money into a black hole''
Questions of this type are raised frequently, and they have to be raised in view
of the huge spending pouring out of state sources (Becker and Herrmann
2013
). In
the case of the Dortmund situation a recent study (Gundeland and Luttmann 2008)
has identified and measured the economic effects that can be related to the
Technology Center and Park Dortmund (TPDO for short). At this moment, a
balance of governmental investments versus fiscal effects is unknown to the
authors. Nevertheless, taking into account also the non-fiscal effects we cannot but
state that an overall positive outcome is beyond serious doubt, at least in the case
of Dortmund.
In detail, the study shows:
• The gross national annual income linked to TPDO is €900 Mio where
• About €600 Mio stays inside the region
• About 16,000 jobs nation-wide are related to TPDO where
• About 11,500 of them are located regionally
• Tax income on the side of region amount to 20 Mio. p.a.
• Innovation in the region has greatly improved, 35 % of the companies in TPDO
are filing patents, more than 20 % go international
• Academically trained personnel in TPDO amount to 70 %
• TPDO has positive impact on the entire region in regard to innovation, net-
works, ability to attract highly qualified personnel.
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