The first example is the Strategic Regional Initiative (SRI) which gave rise to Technopole maritime du Québec.Technopole maritime du Québec was developed in several steps.

Technopoles, similar to science parks but on an urban scale, form another model of support to regional ST growth.

In its most successful expression, clustering combines industry, government and non-governmental organisations, together with a number of knowledge-specific players (universities, research centres, science and technology parks and technopoles, innovation agencies acting like service, competence and diffusion centres).

[20] Sophia Antipolis (F) remains one of the flagship European (and even world-wide) technopoles, generating by itself some 21.000 highly qualified jobs (Office parlementaire d'évaluation des choix scientifiques et technologiques; Rapport sur les programmes multilatéraux de soutien à la recherche et à l'innovation: perspectives pour les petites et moyennes entreprises françaises" par M. Pierre Laffitte, sénateur. Tome II : Actes du colloque du 27 janvier 2000 « L'avenir de la recherche industrielle européenne: les perspectives des partenariats publics-privés ».

In an attempt to reduce these gaps the Structural Funds set aside EUR 12 billion for research and technological development projects between 1989 and 1999: development of research facilities; creation of science and technology parks; science and technology training activities; in certain cases, research as such.

To this end, the European Business and Innovation Centres (EBICs) already present in the technology centres and the Confederation of Andalusian Businessmen will be involved, firstly to ensure the dissemination of the innovations emanating from the three technology centres to enterprises located in the areas concerned, and secondly to encourage collaboration agreements between existing and future small and medium-sized businesses.