| Abstract [eng] |
Over the past 15 years, STP activity in Europe has almost doubled. At the same time, the interest of policymakers and academics in the impact of this agglomeration group on innovation has increased. The influence of STP has also been observed for companies that receive direct tangible and intangible benefits from being in parks. STP helps companies in the processes of business growth, competence formation and innovation generation, thus bringing benefits more productively and accelerating the processes of corporate maturity and successful entry into the market. However, when the company matures to a sufficient level to operate independently, it is important to self-evaluate and understand when the limit of the resources provided by the park is reached, due to which the growth of the company stops or even begins to decline. What is the optimal, sufficient period to stay in STP has not been studied in foreign literature. For this reason, thesis aims to investigate how the maturity and competence growth of Lithuanian STP companies were affected by the functions and services provided by the parks and under what parameters companies decide to leave STP. Tasks of the paper: to study and systematize the scientists' approach to STP, their definition, spheres of influence on the growth of innovative companies, benefits. To systematize the opinion of scientists about competences, maturity levels and parameters of the companies belonging to the parks; to substantiate research methodology of impact of STP on the growth of companies' competences and maturity of the organization, when company is in the park for the optimal time; reveal and evaluate the impact of STP on the growth of company competences and maturity of the organization, being in park for the optimal time, present research results, conclusions and recommendations for STP and companies. In scientific literature it was found that the main benefits provided by STP are administration, technical management, marketing, and training. STP are divided and classified according to many different indicators and slices, but the main and most prominent ones remain the size and location of the park, the collaborative organization, and the intensity of innovation. STP companies are mainly supported financially, by providing networking and collaboration services and promoting the sharing of knowledge and experience. Meanwhile, the innovative business mainly responds to these STP services by growing competences and increasing the maturity of the organization, which, in turn, stimulate the growth and development of companies. Empirical research confirmed the statements found in the scientific literature. These are statements about the fact that the presence of the company in STP is most valued due to the infrastructure provided by the park, as well as financial discounts and subsidies provided by the parks, as well as assistance, consultations, and training. Also, the impact of STP on the organization manifests itself through three main channels: impact on the organization's competencies through training, mentoring, assistance and knowledge sharing; organizational maturity through creating more favorable conditions for organizations, networking; for the organization's image through prestigious park facilities and staff. According to organizations, the level of maturity is usually recognized through increased resources such as profits or headcount, while the decision to leave STP is driven by physical development and the ability to work without park support. The work investigated that the functions performed, and services provided by STP have a positive effect on the maturity and competence growth of Lithuanian STP companies, therefore, when the relevant parameters indicating maturity appear, the companies decide to leave STP. The project is divided into four parts. The first part is dedicated to the analysis of the problem, presenting the relevance of STP, its importance in recent years, and its influence. The second part is a systematized opinion of the researchers: the definition of a park, the benefits provided to the growth of companies, how parks promote the growth and maturity of innovative companies. The opinion of scientists about the competences of companies in STP, the maturity levels, what happens during each of them, the parameters that could identify the adequacy of the company's presence in the park, the factors that encourage companies to leave or stay in the park are discussed. In the third part, a study is carried out, interviews with companies that have left STP and with STP representatives about when it is appropriate and how to decide to leave, which parameters are worth monitoring to understand the optimal length of stay in STP, why it is better to leave and when it is more beneficial to stay. The fourth part is dedicated to summarizing the research results, returning to the analyzed theoretical statements in the context of the research results. |
