Science Parks: From the Outsourced Innovation to the Co-managed Innovation

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the managerial approach adopted by Science Parks in order to manage the complexity of openness orientation in innovation development. The research is founded on case studies related to Italian Science Parks that belong to a wider research focused on innovation and spatial relationships.The research results are mainly ascribable to the ability of Science Parks to facilitate networking between tenants and also between tenants and external actors that belong to an Epistemic Network. As described in the case study, the Science Parks are characterized by new business model founded on providing value-added services and networking. These actors thus become knowledge intermediaries that allow firms to identify innovation parties and transform them into innovation partners and thus outlining the shift from outsourced innovation to co-managed innovation. In this way, Knowledge Intermediaries reinforce the relationships DNA in an Epistemic Network founded on loyalty, engagement and commitment to improve the strength of a relationship made up by a shared vision and shared destiny.