Heterogeneous profiles and trajectories of science and technology parks: evidence from Brazil

Science and Technology Parks (STPs) have become popular instruments among policymakers worldwide. Yet, empirical studies have questioned the effectiveness of STPs in generating the desired impacts on tenant companies and in regional development. Recent literature attributes these conditions to a lack of focus on the inherent heterogeneity of STPs and their respective tenants. This research aims to identify the trajectories and configurations that lead to better performance of STPs. To achieve this, the study analyzes the joint effect of park heterogeneity variables drawing from the case of a developing country: Brazil. Empirically, our assessment combines cluster analysis and fsQCA, a configurational method. Results indicate the existence of two groups of parks: Legitimators, characterized by larger, mature environments and a greater diversity of internal resources and actors; and Immature, composed of antagonistic features. In turn, these parks present heterogeneous configurations in terms of how they combine driving factors to promote economic impacts. The discussions highlight the complexity of STPs as developmental instruments, also stimulating the debate about the importance of ecosystem embeddedness and the interplay between internal and external factors. For policymakers and managers, it is suggested to focus on resources, actors and on their interconnections.