The Industrial Parks of Quadrilátero Urbano According to the Entrepreneurs’ Vision

Abstract

Industrial parks perform territorial, economic and environmental functions. A suitable planning and management are key issues so that industrial parks can achieve these functions. In Portugal there are few studies regarding the number and the conditions provided by the industrial parks. In this article, we show the main conclusions of a study focusing on the firms’ location behaviour and on the conditions provided by a set of industrial parks located in the municipalities of Barcelos, Braga, Guimarães and Vila Nova de Famalicão, which form the network known as Quadrilátero Urbano. The study was based on a survey addressed to 79 entrepreneurs located in the industrial parks of these four municipalities. The study had the following objectives: to identify the origin of the firms and the reasons for choosing to be located in the industrial parks; to capture the entrepreneurs’ perception regarding the conditions provided by the parks; and to understand the future locative intentions of the entrepreneurs. The results show that most firms installed in the parks came from diffuse locations. Space availability was the most important factor affecting the relocation decision. The results also revealed a dominant favourable opinion concerning conditions provided by the parks and a general intention of not relocating to another area in the future.