Knowledge sharing events around the world

IASP conferences bring people together to exchange knowledge and information about the science park industry, establish alliances and develop new international projects. Since 1984, IASP has held hundreds of international events, including conferences, seminars and workshops all over the world. 

World Conferences

Our 2023 event, which takes place in Luxembourg from 12-15 September hosted by our colleagues at Technoport, will be IASP's 40th World Conference and is focused around the theme “Megatrends in Innovation Ecosystems: What are the impacts for STPs & AOIs?”

But what are megatrends? They are defined as long-term driving forces that are observable now, can be experienced by anyone despite regional differences, and will most likely have a global impact. They tend to be stable over at least two decades, and robust to temporary setbacks such as the global pandemic and the energy and food crises as we recently experienced. 

IASP Luxembourg will consider questions of how STPs/AOIs and their resident organisations are impacted by these megatrends; how they work with them, and the role they can play in shaping or influencing them. How can we ensure that we make the best use of these megatrends to ask the right questions when it comes to innovation and/or specialisation? How will STPs/AOIs have to evolve to ensure they can achieve their ‘preferred future’ and what is that future?     

Looking further ahead, 2024 will see IASP members in Nairobi, Kenya, for our World Conference, where we will be hosted by Konza Technopolis and in 2025, who knows?

Regional events

As well as our world conferences, IASP also holds regional events to focus on the key issues that are most relevant in different parts of the world. 

First up in 2023, the IASP Latin America and North America divisions will hold a joint event in Monterrey, Mexico from April 19-21, hosted and organised by PIIT Monterrey. Under the theme "Getting to the next level: STPs & AOIs as economic drivers in their communities", discussions will include the strategies that different ecosystems deploy to boost their communities and ecosystems. Speakers will share their experiences on important topics such as collaboration beyond borders, multi-stakeholder engagement, energising places and strategies for growth including soft-landing, retaining local talent, and helping startups turn into scaleups. 

It will be followed by a European division workshop in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 3-5 May, hosted by the University of Iceland Science Park. The conference takes place in Gróska Creative Community in the heart of Reykjavík between universities and the national hospital in a connected and diverse business and research environment, where a startup mentality is constantly cultivated. The programme will offer a 360° journey through various fields of innovation in Iceland, including presentations from fast-growing companies and promising startups working on health and lifestyle, energy and climate solutions. Technical visits will include field trips to geothermal power plants and companies that develop side products from energy production.

And to round off the year, from 1-3 November 2023 our colleagues at Korea Innovation Foundation INNOPOLIS will host a workshop of the IASP Asia Pacific division in Daedeok, South Korea. The event will coincide with the 50th anniversary of INNOPOLIS, and will be a great opportunity to get to know more about the local and national innovation ecosystem.  

Keep an eye on the IASP website for further details of all our upcoming regional division events!