From the original idea to the launching of a Science & Techno Park, for the Nazarvayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan.

1. STPs: Strategic Decisions
“First Stages of Science &
Techno Parks development”
Ramon Palacio

2. Index
• 1.- Welcome to the delegates
• 2.- Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• 3.- Nazarbayev University
• 4.- Understanding some concepts. An STP, Science & Technology Park
• 5.- The idea, the planning.
• 6.- What do we already have? The original assets.
• 7.- What do we need to start? The first steps.
• 8.- And, what do we need to follow up?
• 9.- What are we asked?
• 10.- Putting the assets together
• 11.- Is there anything else?
• 12.- Main conclusions

3. 1.-
1.- Welcome to the delegates
Nazarbayev University Research and Innovation System.
Astana, Kazakhstan

4. 2.- Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Astana is the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and it is
a federal city area located on the Ishim River in the north
portion of Kazakhstan, with a population of 835,153 within the
city, making it the second-largest city in Kazakhstan.
• Founded in 1830 as Akmolinsk was renamed as Tselinograd
in 1961, and was renamed as Akmola in 1992. On 10
December 1997, Akmola became the capital of Kazakhstan
and on 6 May 1998, it received the name of Astana. It is
center for industry, sports, healthcare and education.

5. Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• The Republic of Kazakhstan is a contiguous transcontinental
country in Central Asia, with a smaller part west of the Ural
River in Europe.
• Kazakhstan territory is of 2,727,300 square kilometres
(1,053,000 sq mi), with borders with Russia, China,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and also adjoins
a large part of the Caspian Sea.
• Kazakhstan’s population is of 17 million people, though its
population density is small, around 6 people per square
kilometre (15 people per sq. mi.).

6. Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan

7. 3.- Nazarbayev University
• Nazarbayev University is a modern and rapidly developing
international university located in the heart of Eurasia –
Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This is the
first university in Kazakhstan that is committed to working
according to international academic standards and guided by
the principles of autonomy and academic freedom.
• The University’s autonomous status was granted in
accordance with a special national legislation. Our academic
and research programs are designed in partnership with
leading universities ranked among the top higher education
institutions in the world.

8. The University's Strategic Partners
• University College London (UK) – partner in the Centre for Preparatory
Studies and School of Engineering
• University Wisconsin-Madison (USA) – partner in the School of
Humanities and Social Sciences
• University of Pittsburgh (USA) – partner in the School of Medicine
• Duke University, Fuqua School of Business (USA) – partner in the
Graduate School of Business
• National University of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public
Policy (Singapore) – partner in the Graduate School of Public Policy
• University of Pennsylvania (USA) – partner in the Graduate School of
Education
• University of Cambridge (UK) – partner in the Gte School of Education

9. The University's Mission & Vision
• Vision:
To give Kazakhstan and the world the scientists, academics,
managers and entrepreneurs they need to prosper and
develop.
• Mission:
To be a model for higher education reform and modern
research in Kazakhstan and to contribute to the
establishment of Astana as an international innovation
and knowledge hub.

10. The University's Strategic Goals
• Goal I: Educational reform leadership
• Goal II: Academic excellence
• Goal III: Research excellence
• Goal IV: Creating a model for healthcare services
• Goal V: Innovation and translating research into production
To become Kazakhstan’s main driver of innovation, leading
the way for Astana to become a regional hub of innovation

11. The University's Schools
• School of Engineering
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• School of Languages and Literature.
• School of Sciences and Technology

12. The University's Future Directions
• Graduate School of Education
• School of Education
• School of Medicine

13. The University’s Research Fields
Research in physical, biological and engineering
sciences, with 2 main Centres:
– The Center for Life Sciences
– The Center for Energy Research, renamed NU
Research and Innovation System

14. 4.- Understanding some preliminary concepts
A Science & Technology Park (STP) is a Public
initiative to create an Innovative Ecosystem, that
increases Economic Development and attracts
Private Investment in a “physical place”.

15. Understanding some preliminary concepts
• When the initiative comes from the University, and
focus the technology transfer and sectorial development,
the STP can also be defined as a Science Park.
• When the initiative comes from a territorial
Administration, let’s say a province or a Municipality, and
focus the territorial development, the SCT can also be
defined as a Technology Park

16. Understanding some preliminary concepts
• And when both focus are concerned, the STP is a “pure”
STP.
• In any case, a STP needs to
– Establish a Governance model
– Gather existing “knowledge assets”
– Manage public private partnerships

17. 5.- The idea, the planning.
• There are hundreds (if not thousands) of
Science & Techno Park in the world.
• Every City, every University, wants to build its
own Science & Techno Park

18. The idea, the planning.
The new STP has to be properly defined:
– The partners
– The place
– The economic sectors to be addressed
– The competitors
– The finances
– The timing

19. The idea, the planning.
Strategic planning tools are a must
• SWOT Analysis: Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities
Threats
• Cambas model

20. 6.- What do we already have? The original assets.
• University Knowledge & City Experience
• Research & Development Departments
• Technological Centres
• Spin offs
• Entrepreneurial programs
• City Incubators for enterprises

21. 7.- What do we need to start?
Some preliminary decisions have to be taken on:
• The place
• The economic sectors
• The finances
• The governance

22. 8.- And, what do we need to follow up?
Work in deep on these issues….
The place
• Open grounds and/or buildings. News or existing
• Urban aspects, urban planning, laws, regulations
• Urban services: water supply, electricity & gas supply,
telecommunications (fixed, mobile, broadband)
• Security,

23. And, what do we need to follow up?
Work in deep on these issues….
The economic sectors:
• Bio & Pharma
• ICT - Information & communication Technologies,
• Robotics, Engineering, Space
• Arts, Creative Industry

24. And, what do we need to follow up?
Work in deep on these issues….
Financing (one shot initial founding & annual recurrent
founding)
• From University
• From Government
• From Competitive projects
• Private

25. And, what do we need to follow up?
Work in deep on these issues….
The governance
• The leadership
• The ownership
• The partners (inside & outside the University)
• The type of organization (Foundation, Private society,
Public society,…)
• The decision bodies (Board of partners, Committee of
Directors, Manager)
• The decision procedures

26. 9.- What are we asked?
University demands
• Space for Spin offs
• Transfer (selling) of technology
• Industry (buying) contracts
• Private investment

27. What are we asked?
Industry demands
• University prestige
• Low cost projects
• Commitment in time & budget
Government demands
• Pole of economic development
• International presence

28. 10.- Putting the assets together
The University & the City already have
• Research Centres,
• Technological Centres
• Spin offs
• Entrepreneurial programs
• City Incubators for enterprises
….that have to be put together under the STP umbrella

29. 11.- Is there anything else?
• Yes….
• The launching
• The communication
• The international relations and associations

30. 12.- Main conclusions
• Do not forget Strategic Planning
• Focus on people. Manage expectations
• Focus on feasibility. Manage resources
• Focus on governance and organization.

31. Astana Science & Tecno Park
Thank you
ramon.palacio@xponent.cat
ramon.palacio@gmail.com
www.xponent .cat
Barcelona, November 2014