University-related science parks - 'seedbeds' or 'enclaves' of ...

0. Felsensteinpark in that city and a further group of ‘other’(generally metropolitan) locations (Table 1).On a sectoral basis, we can point to a certainlevel of local specialization (Table 1). Thus, firmsin the Tel Aviv area would seem to be concentratedin the electronics and software sectors while theRehovot area is characterized by a large collectionof biotechnology and chemical firms and Jerusalemby chemicals, electronics and electro-optics. Ineach location, the sectoral composition of on- andoff-park firms is very similar, as are their industrialand employment characteristics.The industrial and employment profile of thesurveyed firms is outlined in Table 2. As theaverage figures belie the importance of the smallfirm sector in the sample, the means for this subgroupare presented separately. Small independentfirms form the vast majority of the sample (65%of firms surveyed have less than 50 employees and67% are of independent ownership). In generalthey are younger and more technology intensivein terms of inputs (percentage of R&D employees,R&D expenditures etc.) but, as expected, lesscapital intensive and production oriented.In the present analysis, approximately 12% ofresponses were incomplete in one way or another,leaving a total of 142 usable responses. Theseprovided data relating to (a) firm characteristicsand (b) the characteristics of the entrepreneurs ormanagers of the firms surveyed. In most cases theowner-manager of the firm was interviewed. Failingthat, the data relate to the characteristics of thesenior company executive that responded to thequestionnaire. All the data used are categoricaland the variables are defined in Table 3.Firm characteristics refer here to the firm’slocation, innovation level, location of main markets,level of interaction with university and spinoffantecedents. Entrepreneur/manager characteristicsdescribe the education level and work experienceof the firm’s owner-manager and also theextent to which the entrepreneur or manager isengaged in production of products with which hehas prior experience.In view of the relatively limited number ‘ofobservations and the prospect of empty cells whenusing n-dimensional cross-tabulations, the variablesabove have been coded into a minimal number ofTABLE 1. Location and sectoral composition of firms surveyedn % % located % % % % optical % % Totalon chemicals and electrical and transportation and software otherscience pharma- electronic equipment3 precision engineering’ branchespark ceuticals’ equipment* equipment’Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area 62 39.0 24.0 2.3 52.3 4.6 20.5 20.3 100(Herzliya, TA, Petach Tikva)Rehovot 36 22.0 91.0 39.3 35.1 10.7 10.7 3.6 100(Nes Ziona and Rehovot)Jerusalem 35 21.0 52.0 30.5 30.8 3.8 23.1 7.7 4.1 looelsewhere 29 18.0 15.8 45.3 4.5 2.3 12.4 19.7 looTOTAL 162 100‘Includes Israeli 3-digit SIC codes: 200 (basic chemicals), 201 (pharmaceuticals), 204 & 205 (paints, varnishes, insecticides, fungicides).-‘Includes Israeli 3digit SIC codes: 250 (electrical motors, transformers), 251 (electrical equipment), 255 & 256 (communications equipment, electronicequipment for control, scientific and medical uses).‘Includes Israeli Migit SIC codes: 262 & 263 (aircraft parts and Sight control equipment).‘Includes Israeli 3-digit SIC codes: 280 & 2SfJ (scientific measuring and controlling instruments, optical instruments and photographic equipment).51ncludes Israeli 3-digit SIC codes: 733 & 738 (data processing and research consultancies).100 Technovation Vol. 14 No. 2