In this thesis, research was done into the added value of shared facilities and services on science parks in the Netherlands. Science parks are highly valued by resident organisations for their shared (R&D) facilities and open innovation culture. However, research into users’ perceived benefits of shared facilities and services is very limited, while this is one of the unique elements of science parks. Therefore, this research explores resident organisations’ perceived benefits of shared facilities and services on science parks in the Netherland and to what extend this is related to their characteristics.
Literature review resulted in a comprehensive inventory of shared facilities and services and resident organisations’ perceived benefits of science parks. A questionnaire, based on this inventory, was distributed among decision makers of resident organisations. This resulted in a dataset from a sample group of 103 respondents, spread over seven Dutch science parks. A cluster analysis was used to divide the sample group in clusters, a chi-square analysis to test these clusters on significant differences and the Lift ratio was used to assess the resident organisations’ perceived benefits of shared facilities and services.
The research showed that generally resident organisations perceive benefits from shared facilities and services. Although, whether a particular shared facility or service is associated with benefits, strongly relates to its presence on the current site (to the awareness of resident organisations). Shared facilities and services were mostly related to knowledge sharing and on site collaborations, cost of accommodation and services and the liveability of the site. Furthermore, resident organisations associated networking events, a conference centre and park management most often with perceived benefits. Three resident organisation categories were established: non-R&D intensive organisations, R&D intensive start-ups and R&D intensive SME’s. These categories deviate regarding their perceived benefits of science parks in general, special R&D facilities, information access and social events. In conclusion, science park managers, owners and developers can use this information in their advantage to design shared facilities and services for the users that they aim to attract.