Initiatives

The St. Pete Innovation District facilitates relationships across industries and organizations that have the potential to generate, sharpen and accelerate the advancement of ideas. Many of these relationships have been formalized into ongoing initiatives.

The St. Petersburg Maritime and Defense Technology Hub in the Innovation District brings together under one roof the triple helix of innovation: industry, government, and academia.

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The Hub exterior
Image Credits: St. Pete Innovation District
City of St Petersburg

The STEAM Working Group launched in 2020 with the purpose of addressing STEAM workforce gaps. This collaboration of educational institutions, STEAM program providers and employers are particularly focused on providing youth from communities of color with exposure, access and resources to pursue careers in the Grow Smarter target industries.

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Two students with an instructor exploring STEM related technology at the SPID Science Festival
Image Credits: 
St. Pete Science Festival

The St. Pete Ocean Team, formed in 2009, is comprised of over 20 complementary firms, government entities, and institutions that are located near one another, many in the St. Pete Innovation District. Their purpose is to pool collective staff expertise, infrastructure and research capabilities, as well as build awareness in the community and beyond of the research work conducted.

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The Ocean Team's W.T. Hogarth ship out at sea (Image credit: FIO)
Image Credits: Florida Institute of Oceanography

The Digital Inclusion Working Group is a collaboration of over 30 organizations who are committed to eliminating the digital inclusion gap in St. Pete including internet access, devices, training, and technical support.

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A female student learning coding
Image Credits: Seniors in Service

The Communications Cohort, formed in 2017, brings together marketing and communications professionals from the District member organizations to envision joint events and collaborate on stories about our innovative people and projects.

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"Innovation in the 'Burg" logo on a photo of Downtown St. Pete
Image Credits:  St. Pete Innovation District/St. Pete Catalyst

The St. Petersburg Science Festival is an annual regional celebration where families and the public can explore the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).

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A student drawing an illustration of a shark in chalk
Image Credits:  St Pete Science Festival

Inclusive St Pete is a partnership forged by The 2020 Plan, the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC) and a host of partners to expand supplier diversity efforts in St. Petersburg.

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View of an Inclusive St. Pete meeting from the back of a conference room
Image Credits:  Inclusive St. Pete

The Master Planning Committee takes a comprehensive look at the places and spaces in and adjacent to the Innovation District. The committee was formed in 2016 and instrumental in the creation of the Innovation District, considered the original strategic vision for the District, as well as the placemaking and streetscape design. As the District has evolved, updates to those efforts include recommendations to allow for pedestrian oriented amenities, neighborhood scale cafes, and expanded use of office space.

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An aerial shot of the St. Pete innovation district
Image Credits:  St Pete Innovation District/Dorian Photography

Originally called the Ocean and Human Health Working Group and focused on the interconnection of the health of the Gulf of Mexico and other waterways, with the health of our community, particularly children. This effort has expanded to look at several facets of healthcare innovation.

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An exterior shot of the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Research building on a sunny day
Image Credits: Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
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Smart City

The Smart City effort began in 2019 with the SPID’s admission into the US Ignite Smart Gigabit Communities program. SPID is a test bed for the city, and leads the exploration of smart city technologies and their usefulness to the community. There are currently 4 proof of concept projects underway.

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Smart Lighting at an intersection
Image Credits: St. Pete Innovation District