Determinants of inter-firm networks among tenants of science technology parks

Abstract

Science and technology parks (STPs) try to facilitate networking among their tenants by (i) creating a favorable ecology for collaboration through selection of tenants and (ii) encouraging the formation of ties among these firms through events and introductions. We investigate the effect of these interventions on data collected from managers and tenants of 12 STPs in Turkey. In analyses that include STP level fixed effects to control for unobserved heterogeneity in parks' characteristics we find ecological characteristics as well as manager interventions to have some effect on prevalence of inter-firm relationships: Sectoral homogeneity is associated with greater numbers prevalence of knowledge sharing joint development and client ties. Tenants whose general managers have greater presence at the park have more equipment-sharing ties and attendance at STP-organized events increases knowledge-sharing ties. STP managers' brokerage activities contribute to equipment sharing ties.