ABSTRACT
The 53 national-level Science and Technology Industrial Parks (STIPs) represent a further refinement of this notion. They seek to take advantage of the short-distance 'spillover effect' of technology by locating close to a university or research site. They form the principal geographic locus of examination for this research. Various levels of government and private entities sponsor a variety of other zones established to attract businesses to their locale, but without the imprimatur and approval of the central government (Economist 2002). Beijing's Zhongguancun pioneered the model in 1988, followed by an additional 26 STIPs in 1991 and 25 more 'Hi Tech Industrial Development Zones' in 1992. The last addition was Shaanxi's Yangling Agriculture Development Zone in 1997. The local names vary by designation, but the 53 are considered a group with similar characteristics in official state documents. Ten of these zones were further granted the distinction of being open to Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC) members in 1997. The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education jointly approve an additional 22 University Science and Technology Parks. Nearly every university with a strong tradition in technology-based research is encouraged to construct a park close to or within the campus as a location for indigenous technology transfer to a business application.
