Tech Parks Arizona Leader Carol Stewart Participates in IASP International Board Meeting
Hybrid meeting brings together leaders of Areas of Innovation and Science Parks from around the world
- Hybrid meeting connects hub in Malaga, Spain, and experts joining remotely
- Association plans an international event in Seville, Spain in 2022
- Strategic selection of IASP’s next conference destination: Board selects Luxembourg to host IASP’s 2023 World Conference
- Nairobi and Québec City are the official candidates for 2024
Innovation happens when the right people get together, and IASP’s International Board Meeting is a microcosm of innovation in action. Its hybrid format gave global experts the unique chance to meet, with some travelling to Malaga, Spain, and others connecting remotely, reflecting the new ways we work and collaborate internationally.
The International Board is made up of a total of 16 members from 14 different countries: China, Denmark, Ecuador, India, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Panama, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the UK and the USA. Experts in science parks (STPs) and areas of innovation (AOIs), they brought their years of executive management experience to the table in the two-day Board meeting to discuss the association’s future strategy and to outline the path for IASP to follow as we adjust to a post-pandemic world. Taking place from 14th – 15th February 2022, the association’s annual strategy meeting was chaired by International President Herbert Chen (TusPark, China), who joined the meeting remotely from Beijing.
”IASP Board leaders joined together for a strategic planning session where a unified vision for the future was developed. These prolific meetings established the building blocks for the future success of IASP. As the North American President of IASP, it was great to work with my international colleagues to chart a course forward to advance science parks and innovation districts worldwide,” shared Carol Stewart, Associate Vice President, Tech Parks Arizona.
Tour of local innovation hub
Board members who travelled to Malaga also had the opportunity to take a technical tour of Malaga TechPark, including a visit to a Dekra testing facility to see their connected vehicle testing in action.
New research and industry knowledge
Industry knowledge is the cornerstone of what IASP does, and the coming year will see two important developments. The latest edition of IASP’s General Survey will be published in 2022, complete with data from global IASP members regarding the impact of COVID-19, pivots and adjustments our industry has experienced, as well as an overview of all the key trends affecting STPs and AOIs. IASP is also finalising an online Self Assessment Tool for science parks, which will allow them to measure and benchmark their performance in their own regional context as well as at a global level. Developed by experts with years of experience, it will help STPs worldwide to demonstrate the value they bring to their cities and regions and back up their success stories with real quantifiable data.
Back to in-person events in Seville
IASP World Conferences takes place in a different country every year, becoming a tool to link innovation leaders around the world and keep the association truly global. After two years of virtual events, 2022 sees the return of in-person conferences: Seville, Spain, will be the host city, bringing together experts to explore “Green and digital change powered by innovation: the role of innovation ecosystems.” Taking place from 27-30 September 2022, it will focus on the leading role innovation ecosystems have to play in consolidating global efforts to fight climate change through innovative green and digital technologies.
Strategic selection of IASP’s 2023 and 2024 conference destinations
And looking further ahead, the international board also considered candidatures from cities bidding to host the association’s 2023 and 2024 World Conferences, all keen to welcome IASP’s global delegates and consolidate their status as innovation hotspots.
As IASP events continue to increase in size and scope, outstanding bids were received from a wide variety of destinations, including Science and Technology Park of Crete, Greece; Technoport Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PIIT), Mexico; Québec International, Canada; University of Iceland Science Park, Iceland; Konza Technopolis, Kenya; and Kaunus Science and Technology Park, Lithuania.
After in depth strategic discussion of the advantages each world city could offer, the Board selected Technoport Luxembourg, Luxembourg as host for 2023 and shortlisted two official candidates for 2024: Konza Technopolis, Kenya and Québec International, Canada. For 2024, IASP members will then vote on their favourite at the association’s General Assembly in September 2022 to select the final destination.
IASP CEO Ebba Lund, said: “We were delighted to welcome our international board at this hybrid meeting to discuss our post-pandemic strategy and activities for the coming year. With in-person events back on the agenda, we were particularly excited to present candidates to host our 2023 and 2024 World Conferences to the Board. There were some fantastic bids to choose from where innovation is woven into the fabric of the city and region, and I thank all the candidates for their enthusiasm to act as host to their international colleagues. Congratulations to Technoport Luxembourg, Konza Technopolis and Québec International!!”
About the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP)
IASP is the leading association of innovation ecosystems worldwide. Our mission is to be the global network for science parks, innovation districts and other areas of innovation, driving growth, internationalisation and effectiveness for our members.
What we do
IASP coordinates an active network of managers of areas of innovation, science parks, research parks, innovation districts, knowledge cities and the like. We enhance new business opportunities for members and their companies, increase their visibility and multiply their global connections. We also represent parks and areas of innovation at international forums and institutions and assist the development of new STPs and AOIs.
A worldwide membership-based organization, IASP is an independent non-profit NGO managed by experts in science and technology parks and areas of innovation. For further information about IASP, please visit www.iasp.ws.
International Board of Directors
With global cooperation more important than ever, IASP’s internal procedures help to maintain the association’s international identity: there cannot be more than two voting directors from the same country. This ensures that different parts of the world are always represented on the International Board of Directors, and maintains IASP’s status as the only global organization for the science park industry.
You can see an overview of the IASP International Board of Directors at www.iasp.ws/board-of-directors.
