The UK Science Parks Association (UKSPA) has been asked to share its expertise with science parks in China to provide training to local science park managers, strengthen relationships between the two countries and help UK companies fully exploit commercial opportunities in China.

Several years ago, UKSPA had a strong relationship with many Chinese science parks and delivered a training and development programme for the country’s science park managers over a number of years.

At the time it also helped to establish a Chinese Association of University-based Science Parks.

Over recent years, as China’s economy has boomed, Chinese science parks have grown rapidly in both number and size and UKSPA has been asked to become involved in the next phase of the development of China’s science parks.

As part of this knowledge share, UKSPA has been invited to take a delegation of members to Shanghai in February in order to kick start the successful relationship again.

Commenting on the invite, Paul Wright, UKSPA CEO, said: “Our brief is for UKSPA to provide a programme of practical sessions for around 50 science parks, and we are particularly pleased that UKSPA Aspire and UKSPA Clarity, our quality and software programmes, have attracted significant attention from our Chinese colleagues”.

The first delegation comprises UKSPA chairman Malcolm Parry and CEO Paul Wright, Glenn Crocker, CEO BioCity Nottingham, John Latham, CEO Coventry University Enterprises, and James Chaffer, director UKSPA, who have been asked to cover techniques for efficient science park management, technology transfer techniques, and approaches for multimedia and biomedical park development.

Malcolm Parry said: “This is good news for the Association as we are recognised as world leaders in science park development, and have been asked to investigate ways for tenants on UK-based parks to benefit from the enormous market China has to offer.”