How can innovation districts contribute to growth and attraction?

– A great opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from the success stories of leading innovation districts.” says Ylva Williams.

Everyone at the conference shared the same goal: elevating the future of innovation districts. The speakers (see list below) covered topics from a broad perspective, from The Value of a Place through the importance of soft aspects like creating a narrative, vision and culture, collaboration and leadership aspects, to The Ecosystem Secret Sauce and how to prepare for the future.

85 per cent of the attendees rated the symposium 5 or 6 points on a 6-six graded scale.

Key takeaways:

• An innovation district is more than a physical place—it’s a vibrant ecosystem with a joint mission. People are the most essential ingredient.
• Innovation districts improve the local community and should be driven by ideas and creativity, not economic output.
• If you seen one innovation district, you have seen one. Each innovation district has its own fabric, which is built on heritage, culture, people, geography, and vision.
• The innovation district needs constant gardening where you must pay attention to the solid and have the courage to reevaluate the direction.

See the program at this link >>

Session 1: The Value of Place

Here, the importance of location, physical environment, infrastructure, and what makes an innovation district tick were discussed. 

Below:

• Emma Frost, Chair, UK Innovation Districts Group
• Christine Wergeland Sørbye, CEO, Oslo Science City
• Travis McCready, Head of Life Sciences, Americas Markets, JLL

Below:

• Filippa Kull, Business Development Director, Stockholm Science City
• Peter Skogh, Museum Director, The National Museum of Science and Technology
• Mikael Ahlström, Entrepreneur and CEO, The Park
• Johan Christenson, Partner, HealthCap

Session 2: Governance and Community

Here, we explored how collaborative leadership and governance enable an innovation district to grow and evolve for the benefit of its stakeholders – the effect of different arrangements and leadership styles on incentivising collaboration at all levels. Speakers below:

• Petter Hartman, CEO, Medicon Village
• Anikka Fulop, Manager Community Building & Partnerships, Science & Business organisation, Amsterdam Science Park
• Johan Weigelt, CEO, KI Holding and KI Innovations

Session 3: The Ecosystem Secret Sauce

Here, we explored how different organisations contribute to the local innovation ecosystem, with examples from businesses, educational institutions, and support services. Speakers below:

• Lena Mäler, VicePresident, Stockholm University
• Annika Borgenstam, vice President, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
• Annika Östman Wernerson, President, Karolinska Institutet

Speakers below:

• Jacob Sahlqvist, Managing Director, White Arkitekter Gothenburg
• Beth O’Neill Maloney, Executive Director, Kendall Square Association
• Jonas Schorr, Partner, Urban Impact
• Magnus Björsne, CEO, AstraZeneca BioVentureHub

Session 4: The Future

Here, we discussed what innovation districts should expect and how to prepare for the future. Speakers below:

Keynote speaker: Peter Wallenberg Jr, Chair, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

• Ylva Williams, CEO, Stockholm Science City
• Simon Danielsson, Project Manager, KFUM Central
• Stefan Dahlbo, CEO and President, Fabege
• Stefano Minini, Project Director, Lendlease

The moderator: Tim Moonen, Director, The Business of Cities

Photos  by Andreas Namslauer.