Innovation Still Does Not Travel Well, but Is Improving : The Distribution of Off-Cluster Firms Around Four UK Science Parks

The distribution of off-cluster firms around Science and Technology Parks (STPs) was determined in 4 cases in the UK. Off-cluster firms sharing the same Standard Industry Classification (SIC) codes as on-cluster firms were mashed onto a map of the UK and ArcGIS was used to establish zones around each STP of 1-4, 4-7 and 7-10 km. Around a younger IT-oriented STP, off-cluster IT firms were present in relatively close proximity (1-4km), although they were not in the majority when compared to all those the whole 10 km zone. In an older IT-oriented STP, off-cluster IT firms were present further away (4-7 km) from the STP. In both young and older Biotech-oriented STPs, off-cluster Biotech firms were predominant in the 4-7 km zone. Results may indicate that with time and expansion, and the help of new communications and other technologies, off-cluster firms are able to move away from the STP centre to more attractive locales. Nonetheless off-cluster firms still remain within relatively easy informational and travelling distance of the local STP