INCUBATION AND GROWTH AT TECHNOLOGY PARK OF ANDALUCIA

Over, the years, the Technology Park of Andalucía has become a point of international reference in terms of science and technology parks where the IT technologies and energy sector dominates, both in Research and Development, and the manufacture of equipment and services, with an innovative and environmentally friendly approach. With over 600 businesses, and a number of key agents in the Andalusian knowledge system, such as the University and its research groups, over 14.500 employees, an area of 186 hectares with an expansion project in progress, the PTA can be considered one of the main focuses for innovation and economic development in Andalucía. One of the PTAs and its companies ingredients for success is the business development model that has been applied at the Park since it opened. An entrepreneurial culture and a tradition of ongoing enterprise are fundamental to the sustainability of the business development model that has been created at the PTA; the entrepreneurs that started off in the business incubators and pre-incubators have become, in many cases, much larger companies who continue to carry out their activity at the PTA. The constant evolution of the number of companies and institutions within the park consolidates the Parks goal of increasing the technological and economic competitiveness of Málaga and Andalucía.\n\nIndeed, the economic impact made by the PTA on a provincial and regional level has been assessed in a study carried out by an international consulting firm which reveals that the PTA has an extremely strong presence in the Andalusian Science and Technology Network, proving it to be one of Andalucías greatest assets in terms of technology transfer to the region, as well as a springboard for value creation in its surroundings with a contribution to Málaga provinces GDP of 6.5%, whilst on an Andalucía-wide level it sits at around 1,5% approximately. In relation to the creation and maintenance of jobs, the PTAs contribution to Málaga provinces population is between 7.04% and 10.05%, whilst on an Andalucía-wide level the parks contribution sits at around 1.33% and 1.90% of all employment in the region.The new strategy of the Technology Park of Andalucía (PTA) and the University (UMA) is to connect more students and companies, attracting foreign talent to generate new local companies that operate around the world.