IASP members participate in APEC conference

IASP members from across the Asia Pacific region participated in a high level conference on science parks as catalysts for innovation, organised by APEC.

APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) is an intergovernmental forum for 21 economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Headquartered in Singapore, APEC is recognized as one of the highest-level multilateral blocs and oldest forums in the region.

The APEC Conference on Science and Technology Parks: Possible Catalysts in Promoting Enabling Environments for Innovation was a hybrid event held on September 13th-14th 2022 in Lima, Peru and online, featuring three workshops followed by interactive sessions to exchange experiences, and virtual exhibition booth to showcase six success stories.

The strategic axes of the discussion focussed on implementation and planning of STPs; strategy design and minimum standards, management in line with sustainability, digitalization, inclusion of SMEs and post-COVID-19 economic recovery; and the evolution of STPs and their adaptation to the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Participants included several IASP board members: IASP President Herbert Chen (TusPark, China); IASP North America President Carol Stewart (Tech Parks Arizona, USA); IASP Latin American President Juan Pablo Suarez (Parque Científico y Tecnológico UTPL, Ecuador) and IASP Asia Pacific President Suwipa Wanasathop (Thailand Science Park, Thailand). Also sharing their expertise were Eduardo Matozo (Litoral Centro Technology Park, Argentina), Jorge Audy (PUCRS, Brazil), Martha Leal González (PIIT Monterrey, Mexico) and Fernando Amestoy (Technological Pole of Pando, Uruguay).

“Tech transfer and business incubation are important drivers in the development of modern economies,” explained IASP North American Division president Carol Stewart. “Science parks and innovation districts are evidence of a region’s investment in developing a knowledge-based economy.”

IASP President Herbert Chen commented:

“Decades of practice have proved that through promoting the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, training innovative talents, especially promoting the growth of high-tech enterprises, STPs have played a very important role in promoting social and economic development around the world. Today, STPs have spread into every corner of the world.

Due to the unbalanced development among regions, mutual communication, exchange and cooperation between STPs in different regions are very important. I am very pleased to be invited to the APEC Conference on STPs. I think this meeting has played a positive role for APEC member economies to fully understand the importance of STPs, and promote mutual understanding and cooperation between them. Newly started STPs can learn from the experience from mature parks, while more mature parks can further discuss how STPs and AOIs should continue to play the role of driving economic development in the fourth industrial revolution. 

IASP is happy to continue to actively participate in and support various activities of APEC, and other international organizations, on the theme of research and development of STPs and AOIs, and continue to make our contribution to strengthening regional cooperation and promoting social and economic development.”

To find out more about APEC and their work, please visit https://vinculate.concytec.gob.pe/cooperacion-apec/.