Editorial: global competition of high-tech centres

This article highlights the present state of development of the global competition between high-tech centres. Special attention is paid to science parks as a development policy option and the extent to which this policy has been adapted in the USA and major European and Asian countries. Another important framing theme of the article is to outline the development of science parks and clarify the science park terminology. In addition, the functions, performance and new directions of science parks are briefly discussed. Lastly, the structure of the special issue of IJTM at hand is outlined.