Research parks and commercialization centres provide a real alternative for start-ups with high growth potential. They have benefits and drawbacks, and depending on your needs, they may or may not be the answer for your start-up.
Pros:
- Graduated rent payments
- Fully-equipped workstations (telephones, internet and furniture)
- Wet labs
- Dry labs
- Shared meeting rooms
- Cold rooms
- Darkrooms
- Autoclaves
- No equity surrendering
- No strings attached
Cons:
- No accounting services
- No access to legal counselling
- No special access to industry mentors
- No access to a line-of-credit
Again the itemized drawbacks pale in comparison to the benefits – or do they? If your organization is housed in a research park, how have you gained access to services provided by the accelerators?
The answer is complex and very personal. However, both options offer welcoming environments that want to see technology innovators succeed in the knowledge-based economy.
What solutions has your start-up found to this housing question? Where did you decide to grow your business: an accelerator, a traditional research park or neither?
