research park: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Business, Technical
Quick answer
What does “research park” mean?
A designated area where businesses, universities, and research institutions are co-located to foster innovation, collaboration, and commercialisation of scientific or technological research.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A designated area where businesses, universities, and research institutions are co-located to foster innovation, collaboration, and commercialisation of scientific or technological research.
A planned development that integrates office, laboratory, and sometimes light industrial space for knowledge-intensive companies and research bodies. It functions as an ecosystem to translate theoretical research into practical applications and new enterprises.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The term 'science park' is slightly more common in the UK, while 'research park' is frequently used in both regions. 'Technology park' is also common in the US.
Connotations
In both, it connotes high-tech, innovation, and collaboration. Slightly more institutional/academic in the UK, slightly more entrepreneurial/commercial in the US, but the distinction is minor.
Frequency
High frequency in academic, business, and urban planning contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “research park” in a Sentence
[Company/Institute] is based in a research park.The university developed a research park to [purpose].The research park houses [number] companies.There are plans to build a research park near [location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “research park” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Surrey Research Park is a major hub for satellite technology companies.
- Their spin-out company secured a unit on the research park.
American English
- The Stanford Research Park is one of the world's oldest and most successful.
- The city offered tax incentives to attract firms to the new research park.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussing strategic location for a startup: 'We chose the research park for its proximity to talent and potential collaborators.'
Academic
Describing university strategy: 'The new research park will bridge the gap between our engineering faculty and industry.'
Everyday
Explaining where someone works: 'I don't work in the city centre; my office is out at the university research park.'
Technical
In urban planning: 'The master plan for the research park includes wet labs, cleanrooms, and shared conference facilities.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “research park”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “research park”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “research park”
- Using 'research park' to refer to a public park where one does research (incorrect).
- Confusing it with a 'business park' (which lacks the specific research focus).
- Misspelling as 're-search park'.
- Using incorrect prepositions: 'at the research park' (correct for location) vs. 'in the research park' (also correct for being a tenant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A research park is specifically designed for organisations engaged in research, development, and high-tech innovation, often with formal links to a university. A business park is for general commercial and office activities without a specific R&D focus.
Typically, it may include light, clean, or pilot-scale manufacturing (e.g., prototyping, biotech production) but not heavy, large-scale industrial manufacturing, which would be found on an industrial estate.
Often a university, a local government, a public-private partnership, or a dedicated development corporation. Management focuses on fostering collaboration, not just leasing space.
No, Silicon Valley is a vast geographic region and a global tech hub. It contains many individual research parks (e.g., Stanford Research Park) within it, but it is itself a 'cluster' or 'region' on a much larger scale.
A designated area where businesses, universities, and research institutions are co-located to foster innovation, collaboration, and commercialisation of scientific or technological research.
Research park is usually formal, academic, business, technical in register.
Research park: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈsɜːtʃ pɑːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈriːsɜːrtʃ pɑːrk/ | /rɪˈsɜːrtʃ pɑːrk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A breeding ground for innovation (describes a research park's function)”
- “From lab to market (the pathway a research park facilitates)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'park' not for play, but for planting and growing new ideas and technologies through 'research'.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INNOVATION IS A CROP (cultivated in a special park); RESEARCH IS AN ECOSYSTEM (a park supports symbiotic relationships).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is LEAST likely to be used interchangeably with 'research park' in a formal planning document?