European Science Parks and Job Creation. An Exploratory Study

This paper investigates the factors affecting the success of a SP in terms of people employed. Our research covers the population of SPs in Europe (215 in total). We start with a brief focus on some definitional issues. After that, we discuss the underlying determinants that the literature recognizes as potential drivers of a SP's success. These are: (i) the age of the park; (ii) the proximity between University and SP; (iii) the existence of R&D centers and business incubators within the park; and (iv) its main sectors of activity. We also control for contextual effects. Our results suggest that a SPs success, in terms of job created, depends on the context in which the SP is situated, its longevity and its innovation capacity.