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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alison Barlow
CEO
Join us on our next tour of the Innovation District! Our tour will begin at the HUB, and we will board a trolley with other Innovation District partners. As we travel throughout the District, you will learn about the fascinating history and exciting future plans for the area. We will make several stops for a unique insider view of the research and collaborations underway. Participants are invited to enjoy a networking happy hour back at the HUB, where our tour will conclude.
A group of support organizations, led by the Innovation District and fueled by a grant from Duke Energy, developed our first Tampa Bay Innovation Ecosystem Map in 2023. We aim to continue guiding entrepreneurs to the best possible resources with an updated version.
Josh Rojas of Bay News 9 recently visited the Maritime and Defense Tech Hub, where he was welcomed by CEO Alison Barlow and COO Lauren Bell for a discussion about the building’s future expansion. The Hub is already home to a thriving community of companies and demand continues to grow. To accommodate this momentum, leaders are envisioning Hub 2.0, a second building proposed for the west parking lot.