After interviewing nearly 300 companies based in the 35 UK Science Parks, accountants and consultants Peat Marwick McLintock conclude that the UK government should do more to foster Science Park companies, in particular ensuring they are invited to tender for public purchasing contracts. The researchers found that the parks attract companies ready to export, noting that 45% of high tech firms sell abroad, against only 3% of all small companies. Over half also require bigger premises after two years, but tend to stay on the park, and high tech companies typically have twice as many employees after five years as do typical five-year-olds.
CREATION OF SCIENCE PARKS “SHOULD BE KEY INSTRUMENT OF UK POLICY”
