We shall introduce the We shall introduce the concept of Science Park and concept of Science Park and its role in promoting its role in promoting industrial competitivenessindustrial competitiveness and and sustainable developmentsustainable development inin selected areas. selected areas.

Petrochemical Industry Petrochemical Industry Hydrology Hydrology Information TechnologyInformation TechnologyCommunicationCommunication

Selected AreasSelected Areas

Petroleum IndustryPetroleum Industry

Science Park development is Science Park development is part of a global rethinking of the part of a global rethinking of the role of higher education in a role of higher education in a society ( linkage to S.D. ) society ( linkage to S.D. )

PlanPlan

Quick overview of Quick overview of references.references.

What is a Science Park ?What is a Science Park ? List of various goals set for List of various goals set for

Science Parks.Science Parks. Benefits of a Science Park.Benefits of a Science Park.

Element of success for a Element of success for a KFUPM Science Park.KFUPM Science Park.

UNESCO and the Science UNESCO and the Science Park at KFUPM. Park at KFUPM.

Plan (Cont’d)Plan (Cont’d)

Plan (Cont’d)Plan (Cont’d)

On the importance of incubators.Some establishment difficulties.

Quick Overview of Quick Overview of ReferencesReferences

Books, reports, web sites and Books, reports, web sites and specialized publications.specialized publications.

Meetings and discussions with various Meetings and discussions with various directors and founders of many directors and founders of many Science Parks around the world.Science Parks around the world.

IASP literature.IASP literature. Personal visits to some Science Parks.Personal visits to some Science Parks.

What is a Science Park?What is a Science Park? It is a medium in which collaboration It is a medium in which collaboration

between universities and industrial between universities and industrial research centers flourishes, leading to research centers flourishes, leading to regional and national economic growth.regional and national economic growth.

ItIt organizes organizes joint researchjoint research projectsprojects between between the university researchers/graduate the university researchers/graduate students and national and multinational students and national and multinational industrial R&Ds. industrial R&Ds.

It offers selected national and It offers selected national and multinational companies a possibility for multinational companies a possibility for establishing research centers in the park establishing research centers in the park where they can have access to the where they can have access to the university facilities and expertise.university facilities and expertise.

It helps the start-up of small and medium It helps the start-up of small and medium size companies through its incubators.size companies through its incubators.

What is Science Park? What is Science Park? (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

It aims at increasing industrial wealth It aims at increasing industrial wealth through knowledge based activities.through knowledge based activities.

It supports the main national industrial It supports the main national industrial activities.activities.

It creates start-ups useful to the major It creates start-ups useful to the major national industries.national industries.

It optimizes the interaction between the It optimizes the interaction between the industry and the academic sectors.industry and the academic sectors.

Goals of a Science ParkGoals of a Science Park

It facilitates the technology transfer from It facilitates the technology transfer from the university to the park clients.the university to the park clients.

It enhances the industrial interest in basic It enhances the industrial interest in basic research.research.

It increases awareness of the industrial It increases awareness of the industrial needs and problems in the academic needs and problems in the academic sector.sector.

It creates job opportunities.It creates job opportunities.

Goals of a Science Park Goals of a Science Park (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

It promotes an entrepreneurial culture It promotes an entrepreneurial culture among faculty and graduate students.among faculty and graduate students.

It encourages selected faculty and It encourages selected faculty and graduate students to join the incubator.graduate students to join the incubator.

It helps solving the problems of less It helps solving the problems of less competent industries.competent industries.

It helps regional development. It helps regional development.

Goals of a Science Park Goals of a Science Park (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

Benefits of a Science ParkBenefits of a Science Park

Technology transfer from the university Technology transfer from the university to the industrial partners.to the industrial partners.

Reverse of brain drain.Reverse of brain drain. Increase of employment opportunities.Increase of employment opportunities. Increase the number of successful Increase the number of successful

companies in technology based companies in technology based industries especially those supporting industries especially those supporting the major national industries.the major national industries.

Development of the high-value-Development of the high-value-added industries.added industries.

Creation of development funds from Creation of development funds from the operating surpluses to provide the operating surpluses to provide for the future growth of the Park.for the future growth of the Park.

Benefits of Science Park Benefits of Science Park (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

Help in the establishment of joint Help in the establishment of joint research projects between the members research projects between the members of the park. of the park.

Providing a forum for meetings and Providing a forum for meetings and contacts between various researchers, contacts between various researchers, technical specialists, and university technical specialists, and university professors.professors.

Benefits of Science Park Benefits of Science Park (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

Requirements for Science Requirements for Science ParkPark

Government support.Government support. Critical mass of high tech companies.Critical mass of high tech companies. Access to centers of learning. Access to centers of learning. Sufficient land area for present and Sufficient land area for present and

future projects.future projects. International and national accessibility International and national accessibility

(airports, freeways, port etc...).(airports, freeways, port etc...).

Good climate and clean environmentGood climate and clean environment support infrastructure. support infrastructure.

Involvement of regional and national Involvement of regional and national organizations. INTERNATIONAL?organizations. INTERNATIONAL?

Recreational opportunities within reach.Recreational opportunities within reach. Internet accessibility.Internet accessibility. Availability of all necessary utilities.Availability of all necessary utilities. Availability of legal and financial experts.Availability of legal and financial experts.

Requirements for Science Requirements for Science Park (Cont’d)Park (Cont’d)

Elements of Success for a Elements of Success for a KFUPM Science ParkKFUPM Science Park

TheThe universityuniversity is locatedis located in thein the EasternEastern

Province which is theProvince which is the industrial center industrial center of theof the gulf region.gulf region.

The university has a well established The university has a well established Basic Research Program (Lasers). Basic Research Program (Lasers).

Proximity to ARAMCO, SABIC, SWCC Proximity to ARAMCO, SABIC, SWCC and Jubail.and Jubail.

The presence of an International The presence of an International Airport within the region. Airport within the region.

Low probability of natural Low probability of natural disasters.disasters.

The Kingdom is an important The Kingdom is an important market.market.

The availability of lands.The availability of lands.

Elements of Success for a Elements of Success for a KFUPM Science Park KFUPM Science Park (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

On the importance of incubators.

About 1000 incubators in the USA. .

# increased by a factor of 4 in UK between 97 and 2000.

Impact on the management of SMEs, Scientist and Eng.

Globalization of economy. ¼ of ecommerce in Europe.

By 2003 ecommerce will amount to 3 trillions of $.

To access SMEs Intel is establishing ecommerce solution centers in IASP Science Parks.

UNESCO and the UNESCO and the Science Park at Science Park at

KFUPMKFUPM

1- Selection of a group of 1- Selection of a group of expertsexperts

2-Feasibility study2-Feasibility study

Some establishment difficulties.

Faculty support and participation.

Faculty creativity and initiative.

Financing and Venture Capital.

Industry involvement.

Industry and the traditional role of RI.

A judicious choice of partners.

Change in the rules of CSB.

Some establishment difficulties.

Consult:

Ministry of trade.

Ministry of Industry.

Ministry of higher education.

Industrial cities.

KACST.

Municipalities.

Private investors.

End of presentation.End of presentation.