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The Global Institute on Innovation Districts

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Universities and medical institutions

Work with us to build a thriving innovation district

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GIID works with anchor institutions

Universities, medical institutions and other research organizations are known as anchor institutions. GIID helps these organizations increase the impact and commercialization of their work by leveraging the model of innovation districts.

Gain new insights on the role of anchor institutions and advancing innovation districts

Discuss strategy with us, such as:

  • How to design a district value proposition that advances your organizations long-term ambitions along with other stakeholders
  • Validate your existing strategies and intentions and how they align with innovative practice
  • Shape or refine an R&D agenda that integrates research, company collaboration, and essential innovation infrastructure

Learn about the role of anchors in other districts, in order to:

  • Discern how anchors have created a collaborative partnership arrangement with other actors
  • Identify innovative practice on how anchors finance district buildings and programs
  • Receive advice on how to play a leadership role at the district level

Shape new ways of organizing for success, such as:

  • The centrality of your role and its implications for how to organize
  • Different approaches to governance, considering variables such as land ownership and local market conditions
  • The identification of new models for advancing unique R&D capabilities and how to organize companies as part of the elixer

Outline your areas of impact, such as:

  • The criteria to measure that matches your local and regional ambitions
  • How to execute a process for regularly monitoring and communicating your impact over time

How we work with anchor institutions

Research to advance innovation districts

Undertake a regional, state or national R&D analysis to identify areas of outsized strength and potential.

For a specific district, identify their competitive advantages and their most pressing gaps and vulnerabilities.

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Global Network

Sharpen and strengthen the model of innovation districts with a peer-learning and educational program.

Join a collective of worldwide districts where leaders come together to support one another.

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Strategic work on-the-ground

Work with us to develop tailored strategic support to help advance and accelerate the growth and evolution of your district—and avoid costly mistakes.

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Global Summit

Actively participate in the face-to-face events to learn and discuss the evolving model of innovation districts given changes in macro forces that affect your district.

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“Engaging GIID has been a game changer on how we are looking at the potential of our campus.”

Kirsten Hildebrandt

Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus

“Thanks to GIID’s guidance and conversations with my peers, I now have the champions that we need from the University and the chamber at the table to go forward. We are completely aligned in our thoughts and outcomes desired and are now working on a Vision, Mission and Governance structure for the innovation district.”

Jesse Smith

Manager, Industrial Partnerships and Economic Development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Related resources

Tearing down real walls: A place-based approach to university-industry collaboration

article – February 7, 2019

A place-based approach to innovation demands that universi­ties and industries think differently about the physical landscape. Genuinely great places are about more than aesthetics; they create a community that values active, iterative learning, risk sharing, and collaborating to compete.
Learn more
Australia’s pathway

Australia’s pathway to innovative growth lies with its universities

article – May 31, 2017

Australia’s future as an innovation leader hinges on transforming its research-intensive universities into hyper-connected, collaborative hubs that drive market-led growth.
Learn more

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