Understanding technological knowledge spillover in a science technology park ecosystem: an ethnographic study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Technological knowledge spillover is a passive process that is difficult to exploit due to the unknown nature of the phenomenon. However, spillovers in certain geographical proximity improve growth and beneficial to the surrounding actors. Therefore, it is essential to understand the nature of technological knowledge spillover and how it happens in reality. This study closely observed and unravelled how spillover happened in the Science Technology Park ecosystem through two years of immersive ethnographic research. Two spillovers occurred from several projects. Eleven actors are involved in the technology transfer and knowledge spillover processes within two technological projects in the ecosystem. This study provides a descriptive explanation of how spillovers happen. Also, two propositions are discussed for extending the existing theory in the context of spillover in the Science Technological Park ecosystem. First, actuators and connectors in the ecosystem could promote technological knowledge spillovers; they also influence the breadth of spillovers in the ecosystem. Second, to gain benefits from the spillovers, actors must be adequately motivated and competent enough or able to leverage their network to exploit the spillage into commercial businesses.