In the wake of July's national conference on technology and innovation, the importance of Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park, home of the country's top high-tech companies, looms large in spotlight.

After over 20 years of development, the Zhongguancun park now boasts 10 branch technology parks, twice the number it contained when it was first created, said Yang Jianhua, deputy director of the administrative commission of Zhongguancun.

"The innovative capability of companies decides China's economic prospects to a great extent, " said Premier Wen Jiabao at the conference, calling for greater policy support for the nation's companies as they strive to innovate and stay competitive.

Yang said that Zhongguancun is investing 10 billion yuan annually to subsidize the cultivation of technology talent and key enterprises in pillar industries.

He said 7 to 8 percent of Beijing's GDP comes from Zhongguancun's revenue. The contribution surged by 25 percent in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period of last year, he added.

He noted that the Zhongguancun administrative commission mainly focuses on creating an agreeable environment for innovation. Its policies are made in accordance with the country's general guidelines.

Tech park a 'classic'

Luiz Sanz, director-general of the International Association of Scientific Parks, said Zhongguancun's park "has already become one of the 'classics ' " in the industry.

IASP is the world's only organization for scientific parks. It has built several scientific park networks around the word in recent years to boost communication among administrators of parks on a global scale.

"Zhongguancun Science Park is a giant in terms of surface area, companies and institutions involved. That fact entails a number of other issues, which are remarkable," Sanz said.

For example, he said Zhongguancun's complexity requires a sophisticated governance structure where the different parts involved need a high level of coordination.

Its tremendous size has enabled park leaders to develop a series of branch parks within the park, which further complicate its structure but also reflect a clear understanding of the role of a modern science park as well as the need to have a good balance between different technology sectors and sources of knowledge.

"In other words, size, complexity and sophisticated governance make Zhongguancun Park a truly remarkable experience," he said.

Sanz said Zhongguancun Park is a long-standing member of IASP and apro-active one.

"It is not a coincidence that Zhongguancun Park has already organized two IASP world conferences, one in 1995 and then another one in 2005. "

"I have been visiting Zhongguancun Park regularly over the past 15 years and what impresses me most is its sustained growth and its capacity to re-invent itself, constantly evolving, adding new elements and having enough flexibility to adapt its activities and priorities to the evolution of the knowledge economy both in China and in the rest of the world, yet remaining faithful to its guiding principles of promoting development via innovation and technology, " he said.

"I think that the time has come for Chinese parks to make a greater effort in supporting their companies effectively in order to become more international and more active in the global scene. It is not only the parks that must be international but also their companies," he said.

Luis Sanz is also host of the roundtable meeting of the Zhongguancun Forum on Spet 14.