Science Parks and the Co-location of High-tech Small- and Medium Sized Firms in China's Shenzhen

F. Cheng; F.G. van Oort; S.C.M. Geertman; P. Hooimeijer

doi:10.1177/0042098013493020

Science Parks and the Co-location of High-tech Small- and Medium Sized Firms in China's Shenzhen

F. Cheng
, F.G. van Oort
, S.C.M. Geertman
, P. Hooimeijer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Science parks (SPs) have received special attention as a policy tool to facilitate localised economic growth by attracting high-tech firms, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The effectiveness of this strategy has been called into question. Empirical studies suggest that the benefits of SPs for high-tech firms are limited. While this debate is mainly concentrated in the US and Europe, this paper sheds light on the role of SPs in China. It is found that, despite the presence of alternatives, the locations of high-tech SMEs in the region of Shenzhen are determined by hierarchically structured and governed SPs. This finding supports the notion that SPs can play a positive role in attracting high-tech SMEs. Moreover, these effects occur in the relatively unexplored Chinese context of increasingly liberalised but governed market circumstances, where a mature innovation system is still lacking.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1073-1089
Journal	Urban Studies
Volume	51
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098013493020
Publication status	Published - 2014

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1177/0042098013493020

Urban Stud-2014-Cheng-1073-89Final published version, 768 KB

Cite this

@article{2c7214c550a3492a9b8fdfce2343b3b7,

title = "Science Parks and the Co-location of High-tech Small- and Medium Sized Firms in China's Shenzhen",

abstract = "Science parks (SPs) have received special attention as a policy tool to facilitate localised economic growth by attracting high-tech firms, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The effectiveness of this strategy has been called into question. Empirical studies suggest that the benefits of SPs for high-tech firms are limited. While this debate is mainly concentrated in the US and Europe, this paper sheds light on the role of SPs in China. It is found that, despite the presence of alternatives, the locations of high-tech SMEs in the region of Shenzhen are determined by hierarchically structured and governed SPs. This finding supports the notion that SPs can play a positive role in attracting high-tech SMEs. Moreover, these effects occur in the relatively unexplored Chinese context of increasingly liberalised but governed market circumstances, where a mature innovation system is still lacking.",

author = "F. Cheng and \{van Oort\}, F.G. and S.C.M. Geertman and P. Hooimeijer",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1177/0042098013493020",

language = "English",

volume = "51",

pages = "1073--1089",

journal = "Urban Studies",

issn = "0042-0980",

publisher = "SAGE",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Science Parks and the Co-location of High-tech Small- and Medium Sized Firms in China's Shenzhen

AU - Cheng, F.

AU - van Oort, F.G.

AU - Geertman, S.C.M.

AU - Hooimeijer, P.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Science parks (SPs) have received special attention as a policy tool to facilitate localised economic growth by attracting high-tech firms, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The effectiveness of this strategy has been called into question. Empirical studies suggest that the benefits of SPs for high-tech firms are limited. While this debate is mainly concentrated in the US and Europe, this paper sheds light on the role of SPs in China. It is found that, despite the presence of alternatives, the locations of high-tech SMEs in the region of Shenzhen are determined by hierarchically structured and governed SPs. This finding supports the notion that SPs can play a positive role in attracting high-tech SMEs. Moreover, these effects occur in the relatively unexplored Chinese context of increasingly liberalised but governed market circumstances, where a mature innovation system is still lacking.

AB - Science parks (SPs) have received special attention as a policy tool to facilitate localised economic growth by attracting high-tech firms, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The effectiveness of this strategy has been called into question. Empirical studies suggest that the benefits of SPs for high-tech firms are limited. While this debate is mainly concentrated in the US and Europe, this paper sheds light on the role of SPs in China. It is found that, despite the presence of alternatives, the locations of high-tech SMEs in the region of Shenzhen are determined by hierarchically structured and governed SPs. This finding supports the notion that SPs can play a positive role in attracting high-tech SMEs. Moreover, these effects occur in the relatively unexplored Chinese context of increasingly liberalised but governed market circumstances, where a mature innovation system is still lacking.

U2 - 10.1177/0042098013493020

DO - 10.1177/0042098013493020

M3 - Article

SN - 0042-0980

VL - 51

SP - 1073

EP - 1089

JO - Urban Studies

JF - Urban Studies

IS - 5

ER -

Science Parks and the Co-location of High-tech Small- and Medium Sized Firms in China's Shenzhen

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this