| |
This report addresses ways in which the ASU
Research Park and the UA Science and Technology Park can become financially viable and
generate more relationships between park tenants and the universities. Although the
research parks were planned to become financially self-sufficient, both have needed
assistance from the universities. In particular, ASU has transferred $7.5 million to its
park since fiscal year 1990 and UA has paid $2.5 million of its park’s start-up and
operating costs. Even the most successful research parks nationally have struggled for
many years before achieving financial self-sufficiency, in part because the pool of
potential tenants is limited by entry restrictions. Although ASU’s park was unable to
lease land during some past years, it has leased significant amounts of land to new
tenants during recent years. The report recommends reevaluating the ASU park’s
occupancy progress after three to five years. The report also recommends that management
at both parks use other strategies to attract tenants, such as developing more effective
relationships with university faculty as contacts for potential tenants. In addition to
working toward financial self-sufficiency, the report recommends that the research parks
develop stronger links between tenants and the universities. One strategy to facilitate
more effective tenant-university relationships involves enhancing ties between the parks
and the universities’ technology transfer offices. Another strategy involves park
management meeting more frequently with tenants to determine their research needs and
interests.
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
