Major innovation milestones: three IASP members celebrate decades of impact

Three science and technology parks in the IASP community are marking milestone anniversaries in June 2025, each reflecting on decades of advancing research, fostering enterprise, and shaping innovation ecosystems at both regional and global levels. 

In the UK, Surrey Research Park commemorated 40 years since its establishment with a large-scale celebration earlier this month. Located in Guildford and developed by the University of Surrey, the Park has evolved into a globally recognised innovation hub. On 17 June, approximately 600 guests, including university staff, company employees, and local dignitaries, gathered to mark the occasion. A technology and innovation showcase featured contributions from around 60 tenant companies, highlighting research in sectors from artificial intelligence to satellite engineering. 

Originally launched in 1985, Surrey Research Park has supported the growth of numerous high-impact enterprises, including Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and early computer gaming pioneers such as Bullfrog. The site is also linked to the early work of Sir Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind. Speaking at the event, founding director Dr. Malcolm Parry OBE noted the Park’s international influence, having inspired similar developments in Asia and Africa. 

In Austria, Lakeside Science and Technology Park in Klagenfurt marked its 20th anniversary with a three-day international conference focused on the future of innovation environments. The event, themed ‘Innovation Spaces of the Future: Technology Meets Diversity’, brought together researchers, policy experts, and business leaders to explore how diversity, education, and digitalisation are reshaping the workplace. 

Established in 2005 in partnership with the University of Klagenfurt, Lakeside Park has positioned itself as a specialised centre for ICT research and interdisciplinary collaboration. With a vision of hosting 2,500 researchers, educators, and professionals by 2030, the Park continues to nurture a dynamic start-up scene and serves as a platform for industry-academia engagement. The anniversary conference highlighted ongoing efforts to integrate regional development, tech transfer, and inclusive innovation into its strategy. 

Meanwhile, in Mexico, Nuevo León’s Parque de Innovación celebrated 20 years since the inception of the ‘City of Knowledge’ initiative, under the slogan ‘20 Years Building the Future’. Since its inception, the Park, spearheaded by the state’s Institute for Innovation and Technology Transfer (I2T2), has played a central role in positioning Nuevo León as a national and international reference in science, technology, and innovation. 

Through initiatives such as Expociencias, innovation fairs, and international conferences including the IASP North and Latin American Conference they hosted in 2023, the Park has strengthened its innovation ecosystem and supported talent development across the region. Its 20-year milestone underscores the long-term commitment of state institutions to building knowledge-based economic growth. 

The anniversaries offer a moment of reflection for the global science park community, underlining the critical role these environments play in catalysing research, supporting entrepreneurship, and building international networks of innovation. As each park looks toward the future, their ongoing evolution points to the enduring relevance of place-based innovation in a rapidly changing world.