A global look at business, social and urban development impacts on science and technology parks
Dr Neville Comins, CEO of The Innovation Hub, recently attended the 2002 International Association of Science Parks (IASP) World Conference, held in the beautiful UNESCO world heritage city of Quebec in Canada, to forge the future of science parks.
Nearly 450 delegates from research and technology parks in 42 countries attended this international event arranged by Parc Technologique du Quebec Metropolitain and the Quebec Association of Science Parks. The Conference featured speakers from the United States, France, Sweden, Argentina, China, Australia, and Brazil.
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| Al Gore |
Former US Vice-President Al Gore presented the keynote address on Technology in Our Future. Mr Gore has a record of interest and participation in technology-related issues, such as setting up the Information Superhighway and leading hearings on global warming. He is Chairman of the US Space, Science and Technology Committee.
Other presentation focused on topics such as the impact of Technopoles on regional and urban development, urban knowledge parks, government policies as they relate to science and technology parks, innovative environments, creativity, business impacts and regional clusters.
According to the president and general manager of the Québec Metro High Tech Park, Carole Voyzelle, "the communities in which techno-cities are located are already undergoing major transformations. This state of things is due to a whole range of factors, including globalisation, the multitude of possibilities offered by new technologies, and also the emergence of new partnership models that make it possible to link together government, universities and industry."
The International Association of Science Parks represents science/technology parks and business incubators in 55 countries around the world. In total, the IASP brings together over 50,000 innovation-centred companies, R&D institutions, and groups of experts from five continents. For 19 years now, the IASP has been holding annual conferences that bring leaders in their field together.
In the next issue of NewsBits we will highlights some Dr Comins' impressions and insights from this Conference.
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