Over the past year, the United States Conference of Mayors and the Brookings Institution, along with the Project for Public Spaces have worked together to capture a new model of growth that is emerging in cities and the particular roles that mayors can play.
This handbook offers concrete strategies for mayors and their administrations to facilitate the rise of innovation districts—small geographic areas within cities where research universities, medical institutions, and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, accelerators, and incubators. They reflect profound market and demographic dynamics that are revaluing proximity, density, walkability, and accessibility—in other words, the natural strengths of cities.
Table of contents
- Section 1: Introduction
- Section 2: An overview on innovation districts
- Section 3: 12 principles guiding innovation districts
- Section 4: An audit of city assets—Identifying the potential for an innovation district
- Section 5: Mayors as conveners—Engaging local leaders to consider a district strategy
- Section 6: Mayors as champions—Playing a visible role to advance an innovation district
- Section 7: Mayors as catalysts—Using city powers to strengthen an innovation district
- Section 8: Conclusion
Related resources
- What are innovation districts?
- Essay: The rise of innovation districts: A new geography of innovation
- Follow-up report: One year after: Observations on the rise of innovation districts
- Report: Innovation spaces: The new design of work
- Case study: Positioned for growth: Advancing the Oklahoma City innovation district
- Case study: Connect to compete: Philadelphia’s University City-Center City innovation district