Developing innovation districts has become a popular strategy around the world to catalyse economic growth and deliver urban regeneration.
Prompted by a recent project with the University of Minnesota (USA) and drawing from experience so far with Newcastle’s two innovation districts, Tom Bramald – Head of B2B Marketing at Newcastle University - considers the importance of innovation districts and how to get them right.
Contents:
- What is an innovation district?
- Are innovation districts a kind of science park?
- Working together on The MIX
- Power in partnership
- Developing a strategy for an innovation district
- Designing an innovation district
- Managing an innovation district
- Go with the flow
What is an innovation district?
Innovation districts are places where economic, academic, cultural, creative, and entrepreneurial activities cluster and connect. They are areas of remarkable collaboration, bringing together people, ideas, and facilities in a living, evolving, interconnected community.
Innovation districts are often co-located with universities that act as a critical anchor in the district’s socio-spatial ecosystem, research, and operations.
Are innovation districts a kind of science park?
Innovation districts are different to science parks.
A typical science park is a collection of office spaces, labs, and meeting or conferencing areas designed to facilitate research and development in science and technology. They can also be called research parks or technology parks.
Innovation districts tend to be in urban settings, often regenerating a post-industrial space. Whereas science parks are typically found on the urban edge. Innovation districts also tend to focus on economic development whereas science parks are more geared toward research and discovery.
Innovation districts also often incorporate a residential offer, something not typically found on science parks.
Working together on The MIX
Newcastle University plays a leading role in two innovation districts: Newcastle Helix; and the Health Innovation Neighbourhood.
As part of our ongoing relationship with the University of Minnesota, we recently shared our experience to support a planned innovation district called The MIX: the Minnesota Innovation Exchange.
In focussing on innovation districts for a full fortnight, I was able to consolidate the following thoughts about how these schemes come together in reality. Although my thinking here is broken down into different areas, each of these factors should be considered as part of an interconnected web.
Aerial view of The MIX (Minnesota Innovation Exchange). Image courtesy of University of Minnesota Foundation.
Power in partnership
There is strength in forming a partnership to develop an innovation district.
Yes, partnership working extends decision-making and requires substantial formal and informal governance. But any downsides of partnership will be far outweighed by diversity of experience, variety of motivations for the scheme, confidence given to stakeholders, and access to different funding streams.
Developing a strategy for an innovation district
Innovation districts are a long game, so it’s crucial to take a long-term approach.
Accept early that there will be a lag between substantial capital expenditure and the social and economic benefits of an innovation district being realised.
Have a clear vision for what the specialism of the district is, but plant the seeds early and welcome the potential for complementary disciplines and activities. Bringing different fields together can solve old problems in new ways.
Don’t just think about businesses when planning. Lean into the breadth of academia, such as students, research, intellectual property, and analytical services. Many organisations will want to be close – literally and metaphorically – to the unique talent, knowledge, and facilities of universities.
When planning programming, integrate helpful services to support start-ups and spin outs, such as workshops on commercialization, funding, and marketing.
Designing an innovation district
When designing buildings for an innovation district, it’s worth planning for complex building services engineering.
Buildings will need to meet the varying mechanical and electrical needs of a wide range of organisations. Factors such as uninterrupted power supply, gases, air handling, cargo lifts, loading and unloading will all come into play at some point. It doesn’t all have to be installed from the outset, but leave space for things. Retrofitting services will be easier if the structure of a building already has room for them.
Look for ways to make the innovation district work as a living laboratory. Integrate solutions such as urban drainage, age-friendly architecture, energy management, urban farming, carbon capture, experimental materials, and more. An innovation district is the perfect environment to test new technologies and carry out at-scale investigations.
Don’t forget to use bold architectural design to create a “wow” factor that promotes collaboration, attracts business events, and meets start-up needs. Design will make a strong statement about the district’s ethos.
Newcastle University is playing a leading role in the development of Newcastle Helix alongside Newcastle City Council and Legal & General.
Managing an innovation district
It’s important to approach the estate management of the district in a flexible but mindful way.
Needs and capabilities will inevitably change as the project develops. Explore the different possibilities for managing estate, facilities, and incubation spaces. Be prepared to bring in specialist estate management when needed.
Encourage a range of business occupiers. Be open to the potential for professional services and public sector organisations to locate alongside technology and science. This will help bring more diversity and collaboration to your scheme.
Optimize street-level activation. Pay attention to practical needs like delivery access, waste/garbage management, and planning consent/permitting to attract street-level businesses.
Go with the flow
Finally, get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
The long and complex development process for an innovation district means people, priorities, leadership and projects will all evolve and change in ways you might not be able to foresee. Some elements will start strongly but fade with time. Other things will only come to the fore as ideas and plans turn into reality.
Go with the ebb and flow of the scheme, and stay focussed on taking a long-term approach to development, progress, and results.
You might also be interested in
- explore how we are developing innovative solutions to expand social and economic opportunities and raise the quality of life for all
- discover how we are creating the UK’s first Health Innovation Neighbourhood
- uncover the plans for The MIX, a new centre for discovery and economic development in Minneapolis
- find out more about Tom Bramald – Head of B2B Marketing at Newcastle University
References:
National Centre for Universities and Business, 2021, UK Innovation Districts' Group, 2022, Alberti et al., 2021, Pancholi et al., 2020, Esmaeilpoorarabi et al., 2020, Zizka et al., 2021
ALBERTI, F. G., BELFANTI, F. & GIUSTI, J. D. 2021. Knowledge exchange and innovation in clusters: a dynamic social network analysis. Industry and Innovation, 28, 880-901 doi: 10.1080/13662716.2021.1904840
ESMAEILPOORARABI, N., YIGITCANLAR, T., KAMRUZZAMAN, M. & GUARALDA, M. 2020. Conceptual frameworks of innovation district place quality: An opinion paper. Land Use Policy, 90, 104166 doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104166
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR UNIVERSITIES AND BUSINESS. 2021. State of the Relationship 2021. Analysing Trends in UK University-Business Collaboration. [Online]. Available: https://www.ncub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/State-of-the-Relationship-2021-Final.pdf [Accessed 14 January 2022]
PANCHOLI, S., YIGITCANLAR, T., GUARALDA, M., MAYERE, S., CALDWELL, G. A. & MEDLAND, R. 2020. University and innovation district symbiosis in the context of placemaking: Insights from Australian cities. Land Use Policy, 99, 105109 doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105109
UK INNOVATION DISTRICTS' GROUP. 2022. About Innovation Districts [Online]. Available: https://www.ukinnovationdistricts.co.uk/about-innovation-districts [Accessed 02 May 2022]
ZIZKA, M., RYDVALOVA, P. & SPRINGERLINK 2021. Innovation and Performance Drivers of Business Clusters An Empirical Study, Cham: Springer International Publishing. Imprint: Springer