Future Knowledge Ecosystems
The Next Twenty Years of Technology-Led Economic Development
On June 2, 2009, Anthony Townsend presented IFTF's forecast on the future of technology-led economic development to over 800 attendees at the International Association of Science Parks' World Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.
This study is the culmination of an 18-month joint research project with the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, which oversees the development of Research Triangle Park. As part of the 50th anniversary of the park's founding in 1959, this forecast will provide a road map to re-inventing and re-tooling for the next 50 years. The study analyzes fourteen trends in three areas that will shape the future of technology parks and regions - society and economy, science and technology, and models and places for R&D. These trends inform three scenarios of research parks in 2030:
- Science and Technology Parks 3.0—incremental change
- The Rise of Research Clouds—disruptive competition
- Dematerialized Innovation—research parks in decline
This report is a valuable resource for park managers, economic developers, or any organization seeking to understand how and where to locate R&D to maximize innovative potential.
Publication Date
2009