The Socioeconomic Impact of Spanish Science and Technology Parks

This article is based on an Infyde report commissioned by Spains Ministry of Education & Science and the Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE) to find a methodology to explain the quantitative impact of Parks on the Spanish R&D (+I) system. The report focused on the specific impact of the Parks on GDP, employment, R&D and tax variables. Despite the models limitations, the report shows how 7 Spanish parks generate nearly 0.65% of the national GDP and 5.8% of employment in R&D. At local level, their impact is even greater, with 3.9% of GDP and 66.15% of employment in R&D. Tax revenue levels demonstrate how the Parks offset the cost of their actual development. In short, the report quantifies the impact of Spanish parks in economic and social terms and as regards their role as leaders in their respective R&D (+I) systems.