The Geolit Technology Park in Jaén Fails to Attract Companies
The Geolit Technology Park was conceived as an engine for technology companies to settle and expand in Jaén. However, the current reality is far from that initial vision, showing very limited progress and a landscape dominated by inactivity. 🏗️
A Scenario of Frustrated Expectations
Anyone visiting the complex perceives a clear disconnection between the plans and what has been built. Wide avenues and roundabouts in perfect condition lead to empty plots, overrun by weeds or fenced off promising a future that does not arrive. Several buildings that were completed exhibit minimal occupancy, with offices and industrial sheds unused. This panorama contrasts sharply with the image of dynamism and innovation that a park of this type should project.
Elements Defining the Stagnation:- A large proportion of the available plots remain unbuilt and without commercial activity.
- Existing buildings operate with very low occupancy rates, indicating a lack of demand.
- The expected economic and transformative activity has not taken hold.
The "build it and they will come" model has proven insufficient on its own.
The Challenges to Create a Viable Ecosystem
Experts indicate that the success of these technology spaces requires generating an attractive ecosystem that goes beyond merely offering land and buildings. To attract companies, it is decisive to have a strong connection with universities, access to venture capital for new projects, and a broad base of specialized talent. In the context of Jaén, these factors have not been effectively integrated, which hinders companies' decisions to move their operations to the park.
Key Factors Missing in Geolit:- Academic Connection: A fluid link with research centers and universities to transfer knowledge.
- Funding for Entrepreneurship: Access to venture capital that incentivizes the creation of startups and innovative projects.
- Consolidated Talent: A critical mass of technology-specialized professionals that is attractive to companies.
A Symbol of the Paradox
Perhaps the most representative image of this situation is the data center. This infrastructure, fundamental for the digital era, stands imposingly amid the general quietness of the park. It functions as a modern technological beacon that, for now, awaits activity that does not fully arrive, symbolizing the gap between investment in infrastructure and the real capacity to attract and retain innovative companies. 🖥️