What Could an Innovation District Look Like in 10 Years?

As part of our ongoing Morning Sparks breakfast series, we brought together District partners for another dynamic session to spark ideas and conversation around the future of Innovation Districts. Here are four key takeaways amongst the coffee and conversations.

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We possess a powerful and uncommon asset: the hyper-local proximity of world-class universities, advanced medical institutions, and critical defense assets. This dense concentration—just 0.7% of the city—embodies the core characteristics of a successful Innovation District: proximity, collaboration, mixed-use development, tech and knowledge-driven industries, and infrastructure.

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Keep our local talent. Expanding opportunities for graduates to transition directly into meaningful careers fuels ongoing workforce development and innovation. The District makes up less than 1% of the City but we are 7% of the City’s jobs. That concentration of opportunity, and the fact that our median salary surpasses the citywide average, is a testament to the science and technology careers in the District. The efforts to grow our existing businesses and recruit new ones must continue to ensure that jobs are available at all levels.

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Our coastal location is one of our greatest assets not just because of our attractive lifestyle but as a driver of innovation. Surrounded by water, we’re inspired by the ocean and we’re building industries around it. From marine and life sciences to ocean-based technologies, coastal resiliency, and testing and deployment, our geography gives rise to specialized expertise and opportunity that few regions can match.

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Capabilities of the Innovation District can be multiplied when connected in a constellation with other entrepreneur support organizations, innovation districts and hubs. Linking the local expertise and efforts to our Tampa Bay regional and national partners is how we’ll shape the next ten years of innovation and growth.

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Alison Barlow

CEO