• The Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID) is partnering with the Monterrey Innovation District, led by Tec de Monterrey, on the first large-scale international innovation district summit on April 9-11, 2025.
  • Leaders from more than 45 innovation districts from North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America will engage in collaborative exchanges, immersive experiences, and in-depth sessions designed to forge new partnerships and share transformative ideas.
  • Information about the program and speakers is available here.

New York, NY, March 20, 2025. From Melbourne to Oslo, London to Charlotte, NC, leaders from more than 45 innovation districts will join with developers, industry executives and entrepreneurs at the first large-scale gathering tailored to the needs and ambitions of these distinctive urban geographies of innovation. This inaugural summit is dedicated to investigating how, at a time of considerable economic and geopolitical uncertainty, districts are playing an outsized role locally and regionally, and increasingly, nationally and globally as they advance innovation, entrepreneurship, talent development, and knowledge transfer—critical components of growth and shared prosperity.
Organized by the Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID) in partnership with the Monterrey Innovation District, the summit will examine how deeper linkages between anchors, R&D institutions, industry, government, and other actors in innovation ecosystems are unleashing innovations—in areas spanning human health, clean-tech, and disruptive technologies—and new opportunities across nearly every world region.
“The Monterrey Innovation District has much to teach districts and other leaders irrespective of their specializations or ambitions,” said Julie Wagner, president and co-founder of GIID. “GIID’s own research shows that for local innovations to blossom into applied technologies, global information sharing is key. Monterrey exemplifies how to pioneer ground-breaking advancements across a range of important pathways—and that innovation districts are far more than a ‘land use play”.

Rapid Growth of Innovation Districts

According to GIID’s research, the number of innovation districts has steadily grown over the last twenty years, with many more in the planning phase across nearly every world region. GIID attributes this rise not only to the importance of innovation districts in spurring scientific breakthroughs and next generation technologies, but also the growing roledistricts play in attracting, training and retaining a diverse talent pool from the earliest stages through the highest levels. The summit will investigate these issues while also:

  • Framing the evolution and drivers of the innovation district model;
  • Probing how districts, governments, and others are responding to innovation imperatives, such as climate change and significant shifts in production and supply
    chains; and
  • Providing in-depth, practical breakout sessions to teach strategies that help districts (and their regions and cities) become growth multipliers.

“In a world where innovation and collaboration drive development, innovation districts contribute to economic and social transformation. In Monterrey, we promote an Innovation District that seeks to promote applied research, attract talent, link with industry and strengthen scientific and technology-based entrepreneurship. We are committed to generating innovative and sustainable solutions that transform reality and respond to major global challenges”. David Garza Salazar, Executive President of the Grupo Educativo Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Examples of sessions include the role of districts in the ongoing, yet highly uneven, energy transition and different tools and mechanisms to ensure districts are adequately financed. Another session, especially crucial given new threats of tariffs, is how to strengthen a state’s economic competitiveness by leveraging R&D actors and industry alliances in new ways. Additionally, summit participants are playing an active role shaping working group sessions, ensuring participants leave with actionable insights and practical know-how to advance the practice of innovation districts in their home geographies.
“In today’s dynamic economic landscape, collaboration within innovation districts is emerging as a fundamental pillar for the sustainable development of Nuevo León. The convergence of talent, resources, and strategic vision in these ecosystems not only dri ves the creation of innovative solutions but can also strengthen our global competitive position. At the Ministry of Economy, we are committed to strengthening districts by promoting strategic alliances and facilitating access to tools and resources that foster innovation and entrepreneurship, which we firmly believe will build a prosperous and resilient future for Nuevo León”. Emmanuel Loo, Acting Head of the Ministry of Economy of Nuevo León.

About the Global Institute on Innovation Districts

GIID builds a global community of innovation districts. Founded in New York in 2019, GIID is a global-reaching nonprofit organization dedicated to the growth and evolution of innovation districts worldwide. GIID conducts in-depth empirical research on districts and regional innovation ecosystems; leads a Global Network of innovation districts; and, with its sister organization GIID Europe, provides strategic, bespoke support to specific districts, private entities and governments at various scales around the world.
https://GIID.org
Media Contact
Sandra Gomez, sgomez@giid.org

About the Monterrey Innovation District

The Monterrey Innovation District is a physical and collaborative space designed to attract diverse talent, stimulate creativity, and foster innovation, research, and entrepreneurship with a technological focus. It serves as a hub for connecting anchor institutions, companies, startups, incubators, and accelerators, aiming to develop a knowledge-based economy. Powered by Tecnológico de Monterrey, a private nonprofit multi-campus university system and a Host Committee of city and regional leaders.
https://distritoinnovacionmonterrey.tec.mx
Media Contact
Eva Zamora, eva.zamte@tec.mx