🏢 IASP Global Survey 2024

Global Science Parks & Innovation Districts

IASP statistics on Areas of Innovation (AOIs), Science & Technology Parks (STPs), and Innovation Districts (IDs) worldwide

0
IASP Members
73 countries
0
Resident Companies
Knowledge economy
120+
Charts in Full Report
IASP 2024 Survey
40
Years of IASP
Est. 1984

🌐 About IASP

The International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) is the worldwide network connecting science parks, innovation districts, and areas of innovation. Founded in 1984, IASP conducts periodic global surveys providing comprehensive insights into the innovation ecosystem industry.

📈 Network Scale: IASP gathers 397 members in 73 countries, representing a network of over 128,000 companies, most belonging to the innovation and knowledge economy. IASP holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council.
674
KTOs Surveyed (FY2021)
21-23
Countries Covered
35
National Associations
28
NAAC Countries

📊 Resident Company Size Distribution

The resident companies in AOIs/IDs/STPs are predominantly micro and small enterprises:

46.2% Micro
28.5% Small
15% Medium
10.3% Large
Company Size Employees Share Trend
Micro <10 employees 46.2% Dominant
Small <50 employees 28.5% Significant
Medium 50-250 employees ~15% ↑ Increasing
Large >250 employees ~10% ↑ Increasing
📈 Trend: Comparing data over the years, a slight increase in the proportion of medium and large companies has been observed, indicating science parks are becoming more attractive to established enterprises seeking innovation proximity.

💼 Main Technology Sectors in AOIs/IDs/STPs

IASP 2024 Global Survey

The chart shows the main technology sectors operating in Areas of Innovation, Innovation Districts, and Science & Technology Parks globally:

47.6%
💻 ICT
38.1%
🧬 Biotechnology
35.7%
🏥 Healthcare
33.3%
👨‍💻 Software Engineering
30.2%
🤖 Artificial Intelligence
🔄 Sector Shift: Compared to previous IASP Global Survey editions, there is an important change in 2024: Healthcare has moved into the top 5, displacing the Energy sector. AI continues its rapid rise as a focus area for science parks worldwide.

Historical Sector Evolution

Sector 2024 Rank 2024 Share Trend
💻 ICT #1 47.6% Consistent leader
🧬 Biotechnology #2 38.1% Stable
🏥 Healthcare #3 35.7% ↑ New to top 5
👨‍💻 Software Engineering #4 33.3% Growing
🤖 Artificial Intelligence #5 30.2% ↑ Rapid growth
⚡ Energy Outside top 5 — ↓ Dropped from top 5

🎯 "Very Important" Factors for AOI/ID/STP Success

IASP 2024 Global Survey

Science park managers were asked to rate factors contributing to the success of their innovation ecosystem:

🎓 Links to University/HEI
61.1%
👥 Talent
58.7%
📋 Programmes & Activities
57.9%
🎓 University Connection: The highest-rated success factor (61.1%) is links to universities and higher education institutions, confirming the central role of academic partnerships in science park value creation.

Additional Success Factors

Factor % Very Important Category
🎓 Links to University/HEI 61.1% Knowledge
👥 Talent availability 58.7% Human capital
📋 Programmes & activities 57.9% Services
🔬 Research institutions High Knowledge
💰 Access to funding High Capital
🏗️ Infrastructure quality Moderate Physical

🏗️ Main Elements of AOIs/IDs/STPs

IASP 2024 Global Survey

Key elements that foster innovation and attract talent to science parks and areas of innovation:

🚀 Business Incubators 93.7%
⚡ Accelerators 81.7%
🔬 Research Institutions 80.2%
🏭 Clusters 75.4%
🎓 University Presence 73.8%
🎭 Leisure Activities 72.2%
🏥 Social Services 46.8%
🏠 Residential Facilities 41.3%
🏙️ Location Matters: While city-based innovation spaces naturally integrate leisure and social amenities, those in greenfield or peripheral areas require deliberate planning to incorporate these elements that attract and retain talent.

Infrastructure Trends

Element Category Coverage Importance
Startup Support (Incubators + Accelerators) 93.7% / 81.7% Essential
Research Ecosystem (Institutions + Universities) 80.2% / 73.8% Critical
Specialization (Clusters) 75.4% High
Quality of Life (Leisure + Social) 72.2% / 46.8% Growing
Live-Work Integration (Residential) 41.3% Emerging

🌍 Regional Distribution

IASP member distribution by regional division:

🌍
European Division
🌎
Latin American Division
🌏
Asia Pacific Division
🇺🇸
North American Division
🌍
African Division
🌍
WANA Division

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📚 Data Sources

Note: Full IASP Global Survey reports with 120+ charts are available free for IASP members. Public statistics shown here are from the IASP Statistics page.

Data updated: January 2026