Science and Technology Parks in the Age of Open Innovation. The Finnish Case.

The new emphasis on technological platforms, related variety, smart specialization etc. is leading to a substantial (although still incomplete) revision of established conceptual frameworks of the regional innovation systems, including the 'cluster' approach. At the same time, open innovation, as the emerging paradigm in the business literature on innovation, has proved to be a powerful concept, to be used both for analytical purposes and in order to design effective strategies for innovative companies. The role and development of Science and Technology Parks (STP) in Finland (one of the most dynamic countries in this respect), can be analysed to assess how the concept of 'open innovation' has been accepted and operationalized in the management of Finnish STPs.