From local parks to global impact: How international networks transform regions

What happens to a local entrepreneurial ecosystem when a Science and Technology Park joins a global network? This is the central question explored in a new research article by Andrea Ancona and Giuseppe Ceci. Recently published in The Journal of Technology Transfer, the study examines how international connectivity reshapes innovation dynamics, partnerships and apportunities at the local level. The research is the result of a close collaboration with ROAD (Rome Advanced District) and the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP), combining academic insights with real-world data. 

Read the summary below and follow the link to access the full article in our Knowledge Room. 

Fostering regional entrepreneurial ecosystem development: the role of science and technology park networks by Andrea Ancona and Giuseppe Ceci.

For decades, Science and Technology Parks (STPs) have been well known for their local impact as spaces that nurture start-ups, support collaboration between university and businesses and encourage growth in innovation sectors regionally. However, in most instances, these parks are connected beyond their local territories, participating in broader networks of knowledge, capital, and talent.

The authors invite us to look beyond the park as an isolated entity and instead consider the effects of international networks. Drawing on nearly four decades of data from regions hosting members of IASP,  the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP), the study examines how joining a global STP network impacts the wider regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The findings suggest that international engagement has tangible effects that can be observed relatively quickly. Regions hosting parks that become part of a global network show measurable shifts in their ecosystem dynamics, particularly in the growth of knowledge-intensive services and intermediary activities. In practical terms, being part of a global network seems to strengthen the services that hold an innovation ecosystem together.

Interestingly, the effects vary across different European regions. The impact is particularly noticeable in regions with limited economic resources, where global connections may offset local capability gaps. By providing access to partners, markets, and expertise beyond regional borders, these networks can act as accelerators, helping ecosystems grow beyond local constraints.

The study also highlights the evolving geography of innovation. Knowledge is no longer concentrated in a single place; through global networks, R&D increasingly happens across regions and through collaboration. This reflects a broader change in the way innovation happens today, towards more open and interconnected ecosystems.

For policymakers and park managers alike, the message is clear. The value of a Science and Technology Park does not lie solely in the physical infrastructure or the companies within it, but in its ability to connect, strategically and internationally. Membership in a global community such as IASP is not simply symbolic; it can shape the trajectory of regional entrepreneurial ecosystems.

As debates continue around how best to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems in a time of geopolitical uncertainty, technological acceleration, and economic transition, this research provides current evidence of the benefits of global collaboration anchored in strong local ecosystems.

The full article explores the methodology, analysis, and policy implications in greater depth. We encourage you to read the complete study to discover how international networks can become catalysts for regional transformation.