Technopole
Encyclopedia
Technopole refers to a center of high-tech manufacturing and information-based quaternary industry.
These may be developed by the private sector or by the co-operation or partnership between the public and private sectors. Governments of all levels promote them as a panacea for economies hurt by economic restructuring. Large corporations and small business locate in technopoles. Networking between other firms is important and made possible by technological advances.
Technopoles are combined technological and business centers specifically established around recognized educational and research institutes.
The Technopol Program of Lower Austria is a trendsetter in implementing the linkage of education/training, research and business. Lower Austria’s three Technopols are already setting international standards: Technopol Krems in the fields of biotech and regenerative medicine, Technopol Tulln in environmental biotechnology and agrobiotechnology, Technopol Wiener Neustadt in microsystems engineering, tribology and medical systems technology.
There are several definitions for "technopol" in an international context, whereby focus is usually placed on the existence of four factors:
Factors important to investors include:
The aim is to create new industrial jobs to replace jobs lost from old industries that are contracting. However, re-industrialisation using these sorts of industries creates fewer jobs than are lost.
Writer Joel Stratte-McClure of Time Magazine described a technopole in southern France
called Sophia Antipolis
which had 1,200 companies in a sprawling development twenty minutes away from the airport
in Nice. According to the report, the technopole featured hiking
trails and jogging
paths and riding stables and golf
courses and signs which indicate the names of various species of plants, and with street names which were "slightly pretentious" such as "Rue Dostoevski" and "Rue Albert Einstein" criss-crossing rolling hills with pine trees. There are reflecting pools, although the layout was criticized as somewhat "confusing" for taxi drivers.
These may be developed by the private sector or by the co-operation or partnership between the public and private sectors. Governments of all levels promote them as a panacea for economies hurt by economic restructuring. Large corporations and small business locate in technopoles. Networking between other firms is important and made possible by technological advances.
Technopoles are combined technological and business centers specifically established around recognized educational and research institutes.
The Technopol Program of Lower Austria is a trendsetter in implementing the linkage of education/training, research and business. Lower Austria’s three Technopols are already setting international standards: Technopol Krems in the fields of biotech and regenerative medicine, Technopol Tulln in environmental biotechnology and agrobiotechnology, Technopol Wiener Neustadt in microsystems engineering, tribology and medical systems technology.
There are several definitions for "technopol" in an international context, whereby focus is usually placed on the existence of four factors:
- First, a critical mass of R&D facilities which carry out research in one or more relevant areas and which have established the appropriate infrastructure. * Second, the immediate spatial vicinity to university institutions is essential in order to link research to instruction.
- The third criterion is the presence of competent companies as source of demand for R&D competence and "users" of know-how generated at the Technopol on the international market.
- Finally, there must be sufficient company settlement area immediately adjacent to the competence bearers in order to enable technology-oriented start-ups and spin-offs the possibility of settlement.
Factors important to investors include:
- Good buildings and building sites
- An attractive environmental setting
- Excellent highway access and proximity to an international airport
- Excellent international tele-communication facilities
- Good quality housing for managers and,
- Easy access to a substantial pool of well trained and motivated labour
The aim is to create new industrial jobs to replace jobs lost from old industries that are contracting. However, re-industrialisation using these sorts of industries creates fewer jobs than are lost.
Writer Joel Stratte-McClure of Time Magazine described a technopole in southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
called Sophia Antipolis
Sophia Antipolis
Sophia Antipolis is a technology park northwest of Antibes and southwest of Nice, France. Much of the park falls within the commune of Valbonne. Created in 1970-84, it houses primarily companies in the fields of computing, electronics, pharmacology and biotechnology. Several institutions of higher...
which had 1,200 companies in a sprawling development twenty minutes away from the airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Nice. According to the report, the technopole featured hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trails and jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
paths and riding stables and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
courses and signs which indicate the names of various species of plants, and with street names which were "slightly pretentious" such as "Rue Dostoevski" and "Rue Albert Einstein" criss-crossing rolling hills with pine trees. There are reflecting pools, although the layout was criticized as somewhat "confusing" for taxi drivers.