Post-Pandemic: Critical Success Factors of a Technology Park

What is it about?

Technology Parks are special spaces created to bring together universities, companies, researchers, and governments to foster innovation and drive new business development. In Brazil, there are approximately 70 of these parks. This study looks at the key factors that make these parks successful, especially after the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through case studies and interviews, the research shows that success depends not only on infrastructure, location, and management but also on creating opportunities for collaboration, attracting talent, and building a culture of innovation. The pandemic highlighted new challenges, such as remote work reducing face-to-face interaction, which is often essential for creativity and innovation. Two new success factors were identified: the need for parks to help train their own talent for companies and the importance of becoming innovation hubs that connect with the wider community and region, not just the park itself. These insights can help managers, policymakers, and communities understand how to strengthen Technology Parks so they can truly contribute to local and national development.

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Why is it important?

What makes this work unique and timely is its focus on how Technology Parks must adapt to a post-pandemic reality. Remote work, new ways of collaborating, and the urgent need for innovation have changed how these ecosystems function. Through case studies and interviews, this research identifies not only the traditional success factors—such as location, infrastructure, and governance—but also two new ones: the need for parks to actively train their own talent to meet company demands, and the importance of acting as innovation hubs that reach beyond their physical boundaries, impacting schools, communities, and the wider economy. By introducing these new perspectives, the study offers practical guidance for managers and policymakers. It shows how Technology Parks can avoid becoming just real estate projects and instead become true drivers of technological progress, job creation, and regional development. This contribution is especially relevant now, as countries seek to rebuild stronger innovation ecosystems in the wake of the pandemic.

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