DEFINITIONS

Technology parks

Technology parks bring together, in the same physical location:

1. Research and development;

2. Manufacturing;

3. High-level training;

4. Technology and business incubation;

5. Financing institutions;

6. Service facilities etc.

Through allowing close networking and coordination of a range of functions performed by these entities, technology parks have played an important part in technological capacity building and in enhancing competitiveness and productivity as well as in local industrial and agricultural development in both the developing and the developed countries.

ESCWA - through the Technology and Industry Sections as well as Regional Advisors- has already been approached to provide inputs in the design of technology parks and technology/business incubators from concerned institutions in Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestinian Authority, Jordan etc.. The fact that institutions in a number of ESCWA member countries, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain and the UAE for example, are in the process of setting up park facilities, contemplating their establishment or seeking advice on such measures, is further evidence of the need for ESCWA to play a well-defined role on this front.

Technology Incubators:

Emerging enterprises have always found it difficult to launch their operations in the absence of a conducive environment. This has been the case in a range of countries, including some of the more advanced technologically. By bringing together on one site a number of essential prerequisites for emerging technology-based enterprises, incubators enhance their chances of success and, thereby, assist in the dissemination of technology.

Several ESCWA/Arab countries have already embarked upon similar schemes. ESCWA could boost the chances of success for these countries, as well as for others intending to launch similar schemes, by formulating region-sensitive frameworks for technology incubation, facilitating the sharing of experiences from the region and grafting those of other countries, both developed and developing. Requests for technical services addressing some of these objectives are already being handled by ESCWA at the present time.

High-Technology Manufacturing and Service Clusters (HTCs):

Several developed and industrializing countries have adopted strategies seeking to establish "clusters" of high technology enterprises engaged in similar or related industries. In many instances these high technology clusters (HTCs) have been located within the vicinity of universities, research facilities and vocational training centres, with the aim of facilitating contact with sources of science and technology knowledge and technology related services.

In essence, an HTC is a group of enterprises, technology and academic institutions, building upon a set of relationships and common interests, to improve individual efficiency and competitiveness. They may serve as agents of industrial growth and agglomeration, cost-effective means for competitive enterprise promotion, and may also prove beneficial in national and local socioeconomic development.