STPs: Strategic Decisions“First Stages of Science &

Techno Parks development”

Ramon Palacio

Index

• 1.- Welcome to the delegates

• 2.- Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan

• 3.- Nazarbayev University

• 4.- Understanding some concepts. An STP, Science & Technology Park

• 5.- The idea, the planning.

• 6.- What do we already have? The original assets.

• 7.- What do we need to start? The first steps.

• 8.- And, what do we need to follow up?

• 9.- What are we asked?

• 10.- Putting the assets together

• 11.- Is there anything else?

• 12.- Main conclusions

1.-

1.- Welcome to the delegates

Nazarbayev University Research and Innovation System.

Astana, Kazakhstan

• Astana is the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and it is

a federal city area located on the Ishim River in the north

portion of Kazakhstan, with a population of 835,153 within the

city, making it the second-largest city in Kazakhstan.

• Founded in 1830 as Akmolinsk was renamed as Tselinograd

in 1961, and was renamed as Akmola in 1992. On 10

December 1997, Akmola became the capital of Kazakhstan

and on 6 May 1998, it received the name of Astana. It is

center for industry, sports, healthcare and education.

2.- Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan

• The Republic of Kazakhstan is a contiguous transcontinental

country in Central Asia, with a smaller part west of the Ural

River in Europe.

• Kazakhstan territory is of 2,727,300 square kilometres

(1,053,000 sq mi), with borders with Russia, China,

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and also adjoins

a large part of the Caspian Sea.

• Kazakhstan’s population is of 17 million people, though its

population density is small, around 6 people per square

kilometre (15 people per sq. mi.).

Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan

3.- Nazarbayev University

• Nazarbayev University is a modern and rapidly developing

international university located in the heart of Eurasia –

Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This is the

first university in Kazakhstan that is committed to working

according to international academic standards and guided by

the principles of autonomy and academic freedom.

• The University’s autonomous status was granted in

accordance with a special national legislation. Our academic

and research programs are designed in partnership with

leading universities ranked among the top higher education

institutions in the world.

The University's Strategic Partners

• University College London (UK) – partner in the Centre for Preparatory

Studies and School of Engineering

• University Wisconsin-Madison (USA) – partner in the School of

Humanities and Social Sciences

• University of Pittsburgh (USA) – partner in the School of Medicine

• Duke University, Fuqua School of Business (USA) – partner in the

Graduate School of Business

• National University of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public

Policy (Singapore) – partner in the Graduate School of Public Policy

• University of Pennsylvania (USA) – partner in the Graduate School of

Education

• University of Cambridge (UK) – partner in the Gte School of Education

The University's Mission & Vision

• Vision:

To give Kazakhstan and the world the scientists, academics,

managers and entrepreneurs they need to prosper and

develop.

• Mission:

To be a model for higher education reform and modern

research in Kazakhstan and to contribute to the

establishment of Astana as an international innovation

and knowledge hub.

The University's Strategic Goals

• Goal I: Educational reform leadership

• Goal II: Academic excellence

• Goal III: Research excellence

• Goal IV: Creating a model for healthcare services

• Goal V: Innovation and translating research into production

To become Kazakhstan’s main driver of innovation, leading

the way for Astana to become a regional hub of innovation

The University's Schools

• School of Engineering

• School of Humanities and Social Sciences

• School of Languages and Literature.

• School of Sciences and Technology

The University's Future Directions

• Graduate School of Education

• School of Education

• School of Medicine

The University’s Research Fields

Research in physical, biological and engineering

sciences, with 2 main Centres:

– The Center for Life Sciences

– The Center for Energy Research, renamed NU

Research and Innovation System

4.- Understanding some preliminary concepts

A Science & Technology Park (STP) is a Public

initiative to create an Innovative Ecosystem, that

increases Economic Development and attracts

Private Investment in a “physical place”.

Understanding some preliminary concepts

• When the initiative comes from the University, and

focus the technology transfer and sectorial development,

the STP can also be defined as a Science Park.

• When the initiative comes from a territorial

Administration, let’s say a province or a Municipality, and

focus the territorial development, the SCT can also be

defined as a Technology Park

Understanding some preliminary concepts

• And when both focus are concerned, the STP is a “pure”

STP.

• In any case, a STP needs to

– Establish a Governance model

– Gather existing “knowledge assets”

– Manage public private partnerships

5.- The idea, the planning.

• There are hundreds (if not thousands) of

Science & Techno Park in the world.

• Every City, every University, wants to build its

own Science & Techno Park

The idea, the planning.

The new STP has to be properly defined:

– The partners

– The place

– The economic sectors to be addressed

– The competitors

– The finances

– The timing

The idea, the planning.

Strategic planning tools are a must

• SWOT Analysis: Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities

Threats

• Cambas model

6.- What do we already have? The original assets.

• University Knowledge & City Experience

• Research & Development Departments

• Technological Centres

• Spin offs

• Entrepreneurial programs

• City Incubators for enterprises

7.- What do we need to start?

Some preliminary decisions have to be taken on:

• The place

• The economic sectors

• The finances

• The governance

8.- And, what do we need to follow up?

Work in deep on these issues….

The place

• Open grounds and/or buildings. News or existing

• Urban aspects, urban planning, laws, regulations

• Urban services: water supply, electricity & gas supply,

telecommunications (fixed, mobile, broadband)

• Security,

And, what do we need to follow up?

Work in deep on these issues….

The economic sectors:

• Bio & Pharma

• ICT - Information & communication Technologies,

• Robotics, Engineering, Space

• Arts, Creative Industry

And, what do we need to follow up?

Work in deep on these issues….

Financing (one shot initial founding & annual recurrent

founding)

• From University

• From Government

• From Competitive projects

• Private

And, what do we need to follow up?

Work in deep on these issues….

The governance

• The leadership

• The ownership

• The partners (inside & outside the University)

• The type of organization (Foundation, Private society,

Public society,…)

• The decision bodies (Board of partners, Committee of

Directors, Manager)

• The decision procedures

9.- What are we asked?

University demands

• Space for Spin offs

• Transfer (selling) of technology

• Industry (buying) contracts

• Private investment

What are we asked?

Industry demands

• University prestige

• Low cost projects

• Commitment in time & budget

Government demands

• Pole of economic development

• International presence

10.- Putting the assets together

The University & the City already have

• Research Centres,

• Technological Centres

• Spin offs

• Entrepreneurial programs

• City Incubators for enterprises

….that have to be put together under the STP umbrella

11.- Is there anything else?

• Yes….

• The launching

• The communication

• The international relations and associations

12.- Main conclusions

• Do not forget Strategic Planning

• Focus on people. Manage expectations

• Focus on feasibility. Manage resources

• Focus on governance and organization.

Astana Science & Tecno Park

Thank you

ramon.palacio@xponent.cat

ramon.palacio@gmail.com

www.xponent .cat

Barcelona, November 2014