Dear IASP World Conference delegates,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 34th IASP annual World Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, where our community from around the world will come together to explore new ideas for the future of innovation ecosystems.

IASP has long been a global reference on science and technology parks, fully grasping the opportunities and movements connected to innovation, understanding the evolution of the traditional parks and the new role of cities in the urban, economic and social transformation. Beyond being local innovation ecosystems, we recognise that our parks must be global connectors of the worldwide innovation ecosystem.

Our network provides the global platform that connects our members, and this World Conference creates an unparalleled opportunity for making international connections, exchanging knowledge about our local ecosystems, and learning from each other to become truly global.

I look forward to sharing experiences and expertise with our world community when we all meet in September.

Josep Piqué
IASP President

Dear delegates,

Another year, another great event. This year’s conference is number 34 in our history: thirty four years of accumulating knowledge, gaining experience and sharing it all in a professional and at the same time friendly atmosphere. I am sure you will join me in thanking our colleagues at Teknopark Istanbul, ITU ARI Teknokent and ODTÜ Teknokent for the efforts they are making to organise this great international event.

From 26-29 September we will be discussing "Science parks and natural innovation ecosystems: Articulating future strategies.” In other words, we will be rising to the challenge of predicting the future, of our own industry and beyond.

As with other concepts laden with potential, science and technology parks and their ecosystems have already shown a relentless evolution since their inception. We have seen many different models follow on from each other, innovating strategies, devising new services, generating new ways to network and reinventing themselves, and over the course of the event we will explore what they might do next.

At this global gathering I know we will all expand our knowledge, strengthen our existing connections and make valuable new ones that will all help to prepare our respective ecosystems for a global future.

Luis Sanz
IASP Director General