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Advance / Our Integrated Approach

GIID works with innovation districts on three main areas

An integrated approach to advance districts: practice-oriented research, peer-learning through the Global Network, and tailored strategic support. Three areas, linked together to apply and reinforce new insights.

Our integrated approach is how we support the advancement of innovation districts

Our world is changing at a pace never seen before. With this change come new or increasingly complex imperatives such as the need to decarbonize, to de-risk our economy due to geopolitical tensions, and to diversify our workforce to address growing social inequality.

Innovation districts—with their concentration of R&D activities, actors and alliances—are powerfully designed to take on these imperatives or ‘wicked problems’ with alacrity and focus. But this requires districts to undertake a highly orchestrated effort.

To accelerate this process, GIID has developed a three-prong approach

What districts need to evolveOur integrated approach
Make decisions that are more empirically-grounded. Where data and evidence are used to identify crucial gaps in their innovation ecosystem, how to improve their physical landscape to be more open and inclusive, and where they possess unique advantages to leverage.Practice-oriented research
GIID’s focus on deep empirical analysis of each district is a fundamental step to understanding an innovation district’s specific challenges and leveraging its unique strengths.

At the same time, analysis across the large number of districts in the Global Network has allowed GIID to better distinguish districts among others.

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Learn from district peers and structured learning sessions. Where districts come together through GIID-facilitated sessions to share innovative practice, lessons learned, and even insightful mistakes.Global Network
Informed by its empirical research, GIID engages with groups of innovation districts through the Global Network of Innovation Districts—a peer-to-peer network and a highly structured learning program. Districts meet in groups of different sizes, ranging from just two peer districts up to 15 districts in different cities around the world.

With the active engagement by GIID advisors and strategists, innovation districts develop and implement new products or processes to accelerate their growth.

Today, GIID’s Global Network counts nearly 50 districts.

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Experience and global insights on how  to design and execute a comprehensive district strategy. Where the GIID team works in partnership with your districts or organization.Strategic support
Every year, GIID takes on highly specialized work with a small number of districts or select organizations to advance an innovation district. This often begins by undertaking deep empirical research to identify their unique strengths and problematic gaps.

The work can also include asset mapping and analytical mapping of strengths to help districts achieve a true ‘place-innovation nexus.’

This work often includes deep engagement with leaders and/or local committees to build a collective strategy together to ensure ‘buy-in’ and investment support.

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The impact of our work

Our aim is to drive impact in the very places on earth that will have a hand in solving our global problems. We’ve outlined some examples of how we have helped districts advance their practice and impact.

DistritoTec

Reduced the size of their boundary, based on the “organize for success” module. This allowed them to concentrate their focus and investment, creating a powerful effect before expanding.

Innovation Quarter

Now using the empirical data on Quality of Place and reflective work with our strategic advisors to leverage the Bailey Park node into the district’s next phase of development.

Oslo Science City

now using the detailed analyses of its R&D strengths to form specialized working groups based on the district’s distinct areas of excellence. Each group is tasked with identifying ways to enhance collaboration with industry and attract industry funding.

Tonsley Innovation District

Now using the work on effective governance to secure dedicated funding for the district and its governance.

Monash Innovation Precinct

Now using the detailed work on R&D strengths, including companies that draw on institutional research, to reinforce their industry and attraction strategy.

The Brain

A cross-cutting analytical tool of districts evaluating districts through over 75 indicators, including empirical research, one-on-one sessions, and tailored surveys

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Accelerate the evolution of innovation districts worldwide

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