Developing a Business Model for Technology Parks, Centers of Excellence in Africa

1
Developing a Business Model for Technology Parks,
Centers of Excellence in Africa

• Farouk Kamoun
• Professor Emeritus, University of Manouba
• Head of EspriTec Research Laboratory
• Esprit University, Tunis, Tunisia
• First Meeting of the Committee on
• Development Information, Science Technology
  (CODIST)
• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• 28 April 1 May 2009

2
Outline

• Motivation
• Technology parks in Africa
• Business Model for Technology Parks
• Centers of Excellence in Africa
• Business Model for Centers of Excellence
• Conclusion and Recommendations

3
Motivation

• Over the past quarter century, the rate of
  knowledge creation and dissemination has
  increased significantly Transition to Knowledge
  Economy
• Technology Parks and CoE key vectors for
  innovation and knowledge dissemination
• significant growth of technology parks over 700
  mainly in developed world!
• What about Africa? Need for adequate business
  models!

4
Technology Parks, CofE

• Source Kirk Catts
• Parks role to stimulate and manage flow of
  knowledge and
• technology amongst universities, RD
  institutions,
• companies and markets facilitate creation and
  growth
• of innovation-based companies provide services
  high
• quality space and facilities.
• Attract FDI and Technology Champions to Africa

5
UNECA Study

• Review Development of Technology Parks,
  Incubators and CofE in Northern Southern
  Regions of Africa
• Best Practices and Business Model Development
• Study Team
• Dr F. Kamoun Coordinator
• Dr J. Chaabouni North Africa
• Dr R. Kamugasha South Africa

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Technology parks in Northern and Southern African
Regions (2008)
7
Characteristics of visited parks
8
Strengths Weaknesses of visited parks
9
Business Model Framework for Technology Parks
Dimensions of Choices
Mission
Strategic Objectives
Vision
Governance
Actors promoters of a park
Operational Management
Performance Measurement Indicators
Location
Country environment
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Business Model for Technology Parks
Recommendations (1)

• Country Environment Creation of parks part of
  national system of innovation (NSI) develop
  vision and strategy in sector of activities
  chosen for the park
• Location Parks to be set up in pleasant sites
  served by international transport and
  communication infrastructure nearby
  Research/Training centers
• Actors Promoters The private sector involved in
  park development within a PPP framework.
• Vision shared by professionals of park's sector
  of activity consistent with country needs and
  resources.
• Mission Define park activity and type, offer of
  service, target customers at national and
  international level

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Business Model for Technology Parks
Recommendations (2)

• Strategic objectives strategic plan
• Real estate, equipment Modular buildings The
  quality of the buildings and ICT infrastructures
  is a key factors of success
• Commercial and financial objectives (tenants,
  turnover, profitability) in keeping with the
  development stage of park.
• Objectives of creating direct jobs, particularly
  for the graduates
• Business parks cooperate with training
  institutions to provide training for
  professionals
• Specify for technology parks technology transfer,
  research commercialization and creation of
  innovative enterprises objectives
• Governance Establish management company under
  private law to ensure management flexibility

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Business Model for Technology Parks
Recommendations (3)

• Operational management
• Define type of real-estate (single or multi
  users space), space concession, space transfer
• Provide basic services with high quality
  standards
• Develop synergies between park tenants a
  micro-economy within the park
• Develop support and mentoring program to SMEs
• Develop a network of international cooperation
• Launch park marketing actions create a brand
  name
• Create exchange mechanisms for skills and
  technology transfer between academics,
  researchers and companies.
• Performance measurement indicators creation of
  start-ups, firms, jobs, turnover, TT

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Type of Park Technology/Business Park

• If NIS at early stage emphasis on building NIS
  components and start with Business Parks and
  move gradually towards Technology Parks Effort
  to Attract FDI
• If NIS solid develop Technology Park, keep
  strong Business component and Effort to Attract
  FDI

14
Centers of Excellence (CoE) /Research Centers

• in Northern and Southern African Regions

15
Centers of Excellence (CoE) /Research Centers in
Northern and Southern African Regions
16
Performance of Visited Centers of Excellence /
Research in Northern and Southern Africa
17
Strengths Weaknesses of visited Centers of
Excellence / Research
18
Business Model Framework for Technology Parks
Dimensions of Choices
Mission
Strategic Objectives
Vision
Governance
Actors promoters of a park
Operational Management
Performance Measurement Indicators
Location
Country environment
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Business Model for Centers of Excellence (CoE)
/Research Centers (1)

• Country Environment develop policies and
  strategies for research, development and
  innovation. CoE cornerstone of the research and
  innovation system in Africa
• Location close to key resources for its
  operations (industry, university, special natural
  resources) served by international transport and
  ICT infrastructure
• Actors Promoters The private sector involved in
  CoE development
• Vision taking into account
• country needs in research and development
• existing resources (skills, structures, natural
  resources...)
• Avoid spreading financial and human resources and
  create critical masses.

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Business Model for Centers of Excellence (CoE)
/Research Centers (2)

• Mission research activities, services and
  expertise to businesses, educational and research
  institutions and other social actors
• Strategic Objectives (mainly related to)
• RD projects in relation to the socio-economic
  actors in addition to prospective fundamental
  research projects
• collaborative projects within the framework of
  international cooperation in order to integrate
  the international dynamic of production of
  knowledge
• The motivation of research personnel

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Business Model for Centers of Excellence (CoE)
/Research Centers (2)

• Governance inspired by practices of companies
  involve production and other socio-economic
  organizations should in governing bodies
• Operational management A participatory
  management style and incentives to motivate
  personnel
• Performance Measurement Indicators related to
• research activities number of research projects,
  patents filed, publications, incubated projects
  for industry, commercialization of results,
  expertise contracts
• Management revenues from services, customer
  satisfaction, financial indicators and
  product/service quality

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Conclusion

• Creation of Tech Park / CoE must be integrated in
  National Science Innovation Strategy
• Business Model Tool to develop a Strategic /
  Business Plan
• Most African Countries
• 1st step Creation of CoE
• 2sd step Creation of Business Parks
• 3rd step Creation of Technology Parks

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Conclusion and Recommendations for UNECA

• UNECA to Support Countries in
• Developing Strategic/Business Plans (CoE/Parks)
• Evaluating and Benchmarking Existing CoE/Parks
• Networking of parks African Conference on
  Technology Parks
• Capacity Building of Park and CoE management
  Staff
• Promote Multilateral Collaborative Research in a
  priority domains

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Thank you for your attention

• frk.kamoun_at_planet.tn