The International Association of Science Parks (IASP) will hold its 33rd annual conference in Moscow from Sept. 20 to Sept. 23, in partnership with Skolkovo, the new Russian international tech hub. Also partnering this major event are the Science Park of the Moscow State University and Technopark Strogino, with support from the Moscow City Government. (Registration deadline: Sept. 13.)
On Sept. 20, a round-table meeting will be attended by Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev; Victor Vekselberg, President of Skolkovo Foundation; Gianluca Carenzo, President of APSTI, the Italian Association of science parks; Paul Krutko, President and CEO at Ann Arbor SPARK (ex-head of San Jose innovation zone in California); Jari Lauronen, Managing Director of Joensuu Science Park, Finland; Luis Sanz, Director General of the IASP; Tristan Walker, Director for Technology Transfer at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia
Zheng Xiaodong, Managing Director of International Operations, Administrative Committee of Z-Park.
The conference will bring together experts from science and technology parks (STPs) and other areas of innovation (AIs), technology-based incubators, academia, the public sector and business to discuss and debate in depth the trends in STPs and other areas of innovation as increasingly complex structures for professional innovation support.
The program will be divided into a variety of sessions – retaining both the traditional plenary and parallel sessions on specific topics, as well as more innovative formats – to encourage a more dynamic knowledge exchange. All conference sessions will be related to the overall theme for the 2016 IASP World Conference, which has been set as: “The Global Mind – linking innovation communities for internationalization, sustainability and growth.”
The concept of the Global Mind can be understood as a worldwide consciousness shared by an increasing number of innovation communities, closely tied to sources of science and knowledge, which pursues sustainable globalization and aims at balancing the economic and social needs of a diverse range of nations and cultures worldwide.
Also featured in the program, on Sept. 20, is a robotics & VR exhibition, with leading industry specialists and managers — including those of Brazil’s Incubadora – Agência Inova Sorocaba, Iran’s Isfahan Science & Technology Town, Turkey’s Tübitak-Martek, Poland’s Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia and many others — getting together under one roof.
Connecting science parks globally
With 408 members hosting more that 128,000 companies, IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation. It connects the professionals managing science, technology and research parks (STPs) and other areas of innovation and provides services that drive growth and effectiveness for all members.
IASP members enhance the competitiveness of companies and entrepreneurs of their cities and regions, and contribute to global economic development through innovation, entrepreneurship, and the transfer of knowledge and technology. IASP is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, as well as being a founding member of the World Alliance for Innovation – WAINOVA.
IASP coordinates a very active network of professionals that manage areas of innovation and science/technology parks, enhances new business opportunities for companies and research organizations located in these areas, assists the development and growth of new parks and other areas of innovation, increases the international visibility of IASP members and sponsors.
