The development model adopted by the cluster of Lodi is typical of an Innovation Cluster and is thought around three key elements: a strong Pole Research that gathers universities and public and private research centers, together with a Center for Innovation (with business incubator) and a Business Park (which allows to create development opportunities and local employment).

What is a Scientific Park?

From APSTI - Associazione dei Parchi Scientifici e Tecnologici Italiani website, (PTP is member of the network):

The role of Science and Technology Parks has to be seen as a link between the market and the production of knowledge. An instrument to facilitate, shorten and make less expensive the link between the needs to support innovation and possible solutions, according to an increase in the dialogue and a "cross-fertilization" between scientific research and production of goods and services.

Within the majority of the STP there are also services and incubation facilities for the birth and development of new companies based on innovation, functionally and structurally integrated with the Park, where innovative ideas from scientific excellence find a natural habitat to transform into companies.

Park develops activities that, in many cases, are key components of those functions necessary for technology clusters activities. In particular the main function of "fostering" the demand for innovation by SMEs and gathering technology to meet this demand.

Translation from IASP - International Association of Scientific Parks website (PTP is member of IASP):

A Science Park is an organisation managed by specialised professionals, whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its community by promoting the culture of innovation and the competitiveness of its associated businesses and knowledge-based institutions.

To enable these goals to be met, a Science Park stimulates and manages the flow of knowledge and technology amongst universities, R&D institutions, companies and markets; it facilitates the creation and growth of innovation-based companies through incubation and spin-off processes; and provides other value-added services together with high quality space and facilities.

(IASP International Board, 6 February 2002).

Parco Tecnologico Padano recently joined the Council of European BioRegions. CEBR is the only network for support organisations in biotechnology in Europe. The objective of the network is to make the difference for the biotech companies in the participating regions. Members are involved in networking and development and implementation of new services for the biotech sector. CEBR has been launched in 2006, within the framework of an FP6 project that aimed on creating a sustainable network of biotechnology clusters in Europe. The mission of CEBR is to make the biotechnology sector in Europe more competitive, by decreasing the fragmentation, creating a level playing field, promoting cooperation between regions and creating a platform for European initiatives in biotechnology.

Italian BioParks is an initiative promoted by APSTI and Assobiotec involving the Science and Technology Parks active in the field of biotechnologies in Italy.

These are the Parks taking part to Italian BioParks: AREA Science Park, Bioindustry Park del Canavese, Città della Scienza Spa, Friuli Innovazione, Parco Scientifico Romano, Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico della Sicilia, Parco Tecnologico Padano, Pontedera & Tecnologia - Pont-Tech, Sardegna Ricerche, Technapoli, Toscana Life Sciences, Vega Park and Metaponto Agrobios.