| Abstract: | Over a decade ago China launched a large-scale programme to develop science parks with on site business incubators. A major goal of this project was to redesign the economic architecture by creating institutions that would greatly improve the nation's innovation system. Science parks, following the western model, were considered appropriate institutions. This is because they could harness China's many public research institutes and universities and so help promote both existing indigenous firms and emerging new technology-based private firms. Since its inception, however, the programme has evolved to serve multiple purposes, of which innovation system reform is arguably only one, minor goal. This article investigates the evolution of China's two-pronged strategy to develop science parks and business incubators in pursuit of institutional reform of its innovation system. |
