Tech parks is the term of specific parks for technological research, development, and production. When it was first known in the 1950s, tech parks were designed to make space and convenient infrastructure for business innovation, creation, and development. In tech parks, office space, laboratories, storage facilities, warehouse, conference rooms, meeting rooms, etc. are modern and fully equipped.
In many countries, tech parks are mainly built in areas close to universities, IT hubs, convenience of transport systems facilitating travel through different ways. The biggest information and communication center in Europe is Kista science city located at Stockholm of Sweden and belonging to convenient distance with Arlanda airport and Stockholm[1]. Kista science city was established in the 1970s and it has been the home of many well-known companies such as Ericson,, IBM, startups, top universities in Sweden and is known as “Silicon Valley” of Europe[2]. Kista science city was created under cooperation model among public sector, enterpreneurs, and academics and researchers; all complex of the city is equipped internet and amenities facilities.
Victoria Building at Kista - one of the highest buildings in Scandinavia with the height of 120m, and being. Photo source: https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=359976&u
Tech parks have been focusing on researching and developing intellectual products for practical applications in economies. Tech park is the place where startups relating to software writing and technological research work, doing research, sharing and developing software and tech ideas. Tech park is also a great practical environment to foster and develop high quality human source, particularly in techs.
Tech parks has been carrying out benefits, from knowledge sharing, research facilities and equipment access, experiment implementation, evaluation, enhancement of manufacturing methods, innovation of trade, value increase of supply chains at national, regional and international levels, and communication and cooperation between governments, universities, private companies, tech and science researchers and developers.
In terms of environment, tech parks, particularly high-tech parks are likely to have less both direct and indirectimpacts. Comparing to industrial model serving heavy industries such as steel or chemical manufacturing, tech park model concentrates on software, digital applications, ideas research and development, etc.. Moreover, software and tech products will be applied in return to serve production efficiency improvement, eco-social development, contribution to push up digital transformation to a green and sustainable economy.
According to UNESCO, there exists more than 400 tech parks across the world and the figure is continuing to increase.. Currently, the United States has been at the top in the world with more than 150 science parks; Japan has been ranked the second highest place with 111 science parks. In Asia, China has implemented tech/science parks since the 1980s; till now there has had about 100 tech/science parks in that country[3].
As the world leader in technology and sciences, the United States invests largely in research, software development, sciences and technology. For example, Delaware Tech Park at Delaware State (the US) mainly works on science research, sustainable renewable energy solutions, leading information science, advanced materials in game entertainment, fintech. To add, attractive environment for investment at Delaware State has been a plus point facilitating investors attraction to the Delaware Tech Park. Silicon Valley at California State (the US) is known as a leading center on tech innovation and tech startup ecosystem in the world, being the home of many companies in technology, software, and internet. Silicon Valley is headquarter of more than 30 companies listed in Fortune 1000 nominating by Fortune Magazine (the US), such as Apple, Microsoft, etc.
Number of workers at Silicon Valley in 2001-2020: Tier 1 (high skill/high salary), Tier 2 (mid skill/mid salary), Tier 3 (low skill/low salary). Source: BW Research[4].
In Asia, Japan, South Korea, China have been leading in construction, operation, developement of sciences/techs. In Japan, science/tech parks such as Fukuoka Software research park, Kitakyushu science park, Kobe science park, Mie high-tech park, Tsukuba science city, etc. are well-known in the world for their applied scientific research fields in manufacturing, robot, AI, etc. Kitakyushu science research park was established on ground of tripartite cooperation: Kitakyushu city administration authority, business community, and academics including deputy presidents of KSRP, presidents of science and tech universities in Kitakyushu. Kitakyushu science research park focuses on connecting research and tech transferring projects in manufacturing innovation, automobile technology, robotic tech, and SMEs support[5].
Kitakyushu science research park (Japan).
Source: https://www.ksrp.or.jp/e/
Some of the tech parks in South Korea are Seoul Tech Park, Incheon Tech Park, Chungnam Tech Park, Jeju Tech Park, etc. South Korea is known for being one of leading tech advances and digitalized countries at world wide; leading in electronic, semiconductors, mobile phones, digital equipment[6]. In South Korea, develop tech parks is one of crucial strategies run by South Korean Government to accelerate economic growth at regions, thereby stimulating national economy. Eight regional tech parks in South Korea were located at eight different cities that plays key role in balancing economic growth among cities. In addition, South Korea Government has applied many measures to encourage high tech companies to invest in business at tech parks to lift up development of small and medium sized venture industries. Incheon Tech Park is focusing on aviation industry, robotic industry, bio industry, green industry, and human source training[7].
Songdo Center at Incheon Tech Park (South Korea).
Source: https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/incheon/songdo-central-park-90331/
In the Middle East, Har Hotzvim Tech Park at Jerusalem (Israel) is one of important information and technology centers in the world; groups such as Intel, Teva, Cisco, etc. set up companies here. Besides, Har Hotzvim is home of many small and medium sized startup companies. Established in the 1970s, till now, Har Hotzvim tech park has attracted above 9,500 workers[8].
Har Hotzvim Tech Park at Jerusalem (Israel). Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Har_Hotzvim#/media/File:Har_Hotzvim_entrance.jpg
In Asia, India is also a strong country in research, development, and outsourcing software. Software tech parks were built up in India in 1991, in order to boost software export overseas, and supply services to software exporters. Các khu công nghệ phần mềm của Ấn Độ được thành lập vào năm 1991, với mục đích là thúc đẩy xuất khẩu phần mềm ra các thị trường nước ngoài, và cung cấp các dịch vụ cho các nhà xuất khẩu phần mềm. Currently, technology park in Thiruvananthapuram is considered the largest technology park in India, both in terms of area and number of companies operating in the technology park. Founded by Kerala State (India) on November 18th 1990, the tech park in Thiruvananthapuram has been the leading tech park in India in terms of development scale, and it is considered one of the greenest tech complexes in the world. At Kerala State, another complex provides smart infrastructure and working space, tech solutions to tech companies, and is valuated as one of ideal destinations in India to investors in information and technology[9].
Tech park in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala State, India).
Photo source: https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=359976&u
Having catched up with regional and global trends, Vietnam is gradually making efforts to become a major software outsourcing center both regional and worldwide. On August 28th 2003, Vietnam Government launched Decree no. 99/2003/NĐ-CP on High Tech Regulation. Accordingly, Article 2, Article 3, at Chapter 1 of the Decree defined that, high tech park is a multifunctional eco-technique park, getting defined boundaries, and established by Prime Minister’s decision to research, develop, and apply high technology, to incubate hi-tech enterprisers, to train hi-tech human resources, and to manufacture and trade hi-tech products; in the high tech park it may have export processing zones, bonded warehouses, tax-suspension areas, and housing areas[10]. This Regulation also stipulates incentives that enterprises get granted in high tech zones (priority in capital allocation, construction investment budget, equal treatment, development facilitation, state protection to ownership rights over investment capital, assets, patents, etc. Guarantee that such enterprises are not confiscated or requisitioned by financial measures, or nationalized during investment projects implementation). High Tech Law was approved on November 13th 2008 regulates high tech activities, policies, measures to encourage promotion of high tech activities[11]. In addition, Decision no. 10/2021/QĐ-TTg was promulgated on March 16th 2021 (in validity since April 30th 2021) stipulates criteria for high tech enterprises definition[12].
Currently, Hoa Lac High Tech Park at Hanoi is national high tech park established by Prime Minister and got approval of master plan at Decision no. 198/1998/QĐ-TTg on October 12th 1998, in order to push up economic industrialization and modernization. In 2008, JICA supported adjustment research of general planning of Hoa Lac High Tech Park. On October 25th 2014, Prime Minister signed in Decision no. 201/QĐ-TTg approving adjustment mission of Master Plan of Hoa Lac High Tech Park Construction by 2030; in May 27th 2016, Prime Minister launched Decision no. 899/QĐ-TTg approving adjustment of general planning of Hoa Lac High Tech Park by 2030. Hoa Lac High Tech Park is the national center for research, development and application of high technology, human resource training, production development, services provision, high tech product sales, and incubating high tech startups. Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park has focused on development of information technology, electronics, biology, machine manufacturing, new materials, new energy, mechatronics, and list of recommended high-tech products[13]. Hoa Lac High Tech Park is considered as the first and biggest high tech park in Vietnam. Located near to Noi Bai International Airport, within an area of above 1,500 ha, Hoa Lac High Tech Park consists of 06 functional areas: i) Area for resesarch – development; ii) Specific area for software; iii) High tech area; iv) Area for education – training; v) Area for events organization (meeting, conference, forum, exhibition, etc.) and services (restaurants, hospitals, hotels, supermarkets, etc.).
Implementing development orientation of the Government, being one of the major cities directly under the Central Government, with an important role in promoting the city's economy, the regional economy, contributing to the national economic development, On December 27th 2018, Hai Phong People's Committee issued Decision no. 3499/QD-UBND promulgating List of industrial projects for encouragement of investment, conditional investment, and non-acceptance in Hai Phong city by 2025, orientation to 2030. Accordingly, information technology and high technology, industrial products supporting high-tech industry are ones of encouraged areas to invest in the city’s area. Currently, in the area of the city there are Hai Phong VSIP, DEEP C IP, Nam Dinh Vu IP, MP Dinh Vu IP, Trang Due IP, An Duong IP, Nam Cau Kien IP, Nomura Hai Phong IP, Do Son IP; in which Do Son, An Duong, Nam Cau Kien and Nomura Hai Phong IPs are located outside Dinh Vu – Cat Hai Economic Zone. Manufacturing and business activities of enterprises operating at those industrial parks have significantly contributed to eco-social development of the city and country. Located in a convenient location for connection between domestic, regional and international economic regions, skilled and young human resources, developed infrastructure, movement of investment flows, etc., if a science/technology park is established and developed in Hai Phong city, it will open up many opportunities in calling on investment, research and production promotion, and ancillary services development, internal resources enhancement (human source, financial resources, etc.), contributing to implement green production, green growth, and green development goals of the city./.
Lê Hạnh
[1] https://kista.com/english/
[2] https://www.nordichardware.se/artikel/overclocking-at-intel.html
[3] http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/science-technology/university-industry-partnerships/science-parks-around-the-world/
[4] https://siliconvalleyindicators.org/data/economy/employment/employment-by-tier/total-employment-by-tier-silicon-valley/
[5] https://www.ksrp.or.jp/e/fais/index.html
[6] http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/science-technology/university-industry-partnerships/science-parks-around-the-world/science-parks-in-asia/#c99670
[7] https://www.itp.or.kr/intro.asp?tmid=15
[8] https://www.hotzvim.org.il/about-in-english/
[9] https://kerala.gov.in/it-parks
[10] https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Doanh-nghiep/Nghi-dinh-99-2003-ND-CP-Quy-che-Khu-cong-nghe-cao-51305.aspx
[11] https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Linh-vuc-khac/Luat-cong-nghe-cao-2008-21-2008-QH12-82201.aspx?tab=7
[12] https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Linh-vuc-khac/Luat-cong-nghe-cao-2008-21-2008-QH12-82201.aspx?tab=7
[13] https://kland.vn/IndustrialPark/khu-cong-nghe-cao-hoa-lac-ha-noi.html