EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - The Lakeside Science and Technology Park – Synergies in ICT

The Lakeside Science and Technology Park – Synergies in ICT – Klagenfurt, AT

Introduction

The Lakeside Science & Technology Park is a place of interdisciplinary research and development, training, production and service. M

Problem

The city of Klagenfurt is located in the region of Carinthia. Carinthia’s economic strength is traditionally positioned at a lower level than the Austrian average. There are signs that Carinthia is overcoming its structural weakness gradually, but these developments are nevertheless insufficient to lift the total dynamics of the Carinthian economy to that of the rest of Austria.

Description

Lakeside Park positions itself as a platform for co-operation between enterprises and the University of Klagenfurt and/or specialised university institutes in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The implementation of the project focuses on first-class infrastructure and architecture, which helps create the right atmosphere for innovation and collaboration.

The Park aims to tune the expertise and abilities of the University of Klagenfurt with the expertise and abilities of the ICT businesses. Based on the needs of the enterprises in Lakeside Park, the University of Klagenfurt will develop a range of technical courses with emphasis on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Results

Successes of the initiative include:

recognition of the Lakeside Science & Technology Park project both throughout Austria and internationally;
international awareness-raising for a high-quality study location in Carinthia with a comprehensive offering of information technology courses;
training of highly-qualified, practically educated graduates;
provision of practical experience and training positions in enterprises;
creation of new, high-quality jobs in the ICT sector;
establishing the Lakeside Park as a base for the development of an economic status with high technological authority for both the region and wider Carinthia.

Resources used

Total budget: 8.0 million euros
Structural Fund (ERDF) co-financing: 2.0 million euros
National private co-financing: 6.0 million euros

EU involvement

This practice was presented at the Fourth Best Practice Conference New Horizons in Graz, Austria on 15 November 2006. The conference aimed at promoting exchange of experience and dissemination of best practice between authorities involved in the implementation on EU Structural Funds Programmes in Europe. It was destined to contribute to improving quality of implementation of Structural Funds on the basis of project presentations and visits.

Contact info

Lakeside Science & Technology Park
Maria Mack (Park manager)

Project start date

01/01/2001

Links

Visit the Lakeside Science & Technology Park website Visit the GRAZ Best Practice Conference website

Download the 'The Lakeside Science and Technology Park – Synergies in ICT' Report (PDF, Eng, 62 KB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Business support