First global summit on innovation districts held at the Tec

Leaders from over 50 innovation districts around the world, including the Monterrey Innovation District, have gathered at the first edition of the Global Summit on Innovation Districts.

Tec de Monterrey was the venue for this first summit, where leaders and representatives gathered to exchange knowledge, experiences, and strategies, as well as to form alliances.

Innovation districts are geographic spaces within cities where innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship dynamics meet.

“Leaders from more than 50 innovation districts in 18 countries are sharing their vision of how collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector can transform our environment.

"We’re honored that Tec de Monterrey was chosen as the venue", said David Garza, Executive President of the Tecnológico de Monterrey Education Group, during the event.

Innovation districts are geographic spaces within cities where innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship dynamics meet.

Global Summit on Innovation Districts

Leaders from different innovation districts in cities such as Melbourne, Oslo, Liverpool and Pittsburg gathered in Mexico for this meeting.

The event was held from April 9 to 11 at Tec de Monterrey's campus Monterrey, within the heart of the newly formed Monterrey Innovation District.

The meeting included panels and conferences on a variety of topics.

Some of the main topics addressed during the summit included: the diversification of talent in cities, decarbonization of industries and resilience in supply chains.

“These districts are not just geographic spaces. They’re dynamic ecosystems in which knowledge, creativity, and entrepreneurship converge to address urgent global challenges.

“In an era when innovation is the driving force behind economic and social development, innovation districtshave become catalysts for the growth of strategic industries, the advancement of applied research, and global competitiveness,” Garza added.

Julie Wagner, President and Co-founder of The Global Institute on Innovation Districts, shared that  the summit also had within its objectives to share new research, networking and alliances.

Universities and industry: Collaborating for success 

Collaboration between universities and industry is fundamental for innovation districts, according to Thomas Osha, Board Chair at The Global Institute on Innovation Districts.

Alongside Andreas Tveteras, Climate and Resources Leader at Oslo’s Department of Transport and Environment, he mentioned that this fosters collaboration, adaptability, and an environment conducive to innovation and talent development.

1. Geographic intersection

Physical proximity enables collaboration and interaction, essential elements for fostering innovation.

2. Intentional urban planning

Universities and industry need to work together to design spaces that facilitate collaboration and innovation.

3. Adaptability and collaboration

Spaces should be designed to encourage collaboration and interaction among various stakeholders, including students, researchers, and industry professionals. This adaptability makes it possible to respond to the needs of the innovation ecosystem.

4. Capacity building

Universities can prepare students for emerging technology jobs within these innovation districts, thus ensuring a skilled workforce that responds to industry demands.

5. Foster a sense of belonging

Fostering a sense of community within these innovation districts is essential.

Technology in innovation districts

Eastwood discussed how her district has collaborated with technology companies such as Google, the local government, and different educational institutions to create a strategy that democratizes access to AI in the community.

“At its core, this case study tells us about what happens when people’s strategy isn’t based solely on technology but on the place itself and the heart of that place,” she said.

Bocanegra, drawing from his background in the manufacturing industry, discussed how companies were forced to readapt and innovate due to unique events such as the pandemic coupled with rapidly evolving technologies. 

“The rapid increase in the evolution of new technologies requires that everyone develop a new set of skills (...) As repetitive tasks become automated, our engineers need to think and act differently,” he said.

Fiorello pointed out that, beyond just planning impressive infrastructure, the true value of future generations will always lie in their talent and how innovation districts are uniquely placed to amplify that talent.

Monterrey Innovation District receives award

During the summit, the Tec’s Monterrey Innovation District received the Trailblazer Award, a prize given by the Global Institute on Innovation Districts, for implementing a unique value proposition based on its strengths in research and development.

The recognition was given during the Global Summit Awards, an initiative that acknowledges the work of communities who create these innovation ecosystems.

Mario Adrián Flores, Vice President of the Monterrey Region and General Director of the Monterrey campus, stated that this award puts Tec de Monterrey on the international stage.

“It’s a great honor to receive this award because it’s the work of a great team of people who started this 10 years ago with distritotec.

“Moreover, it shows that Mexico is a place where extraordinary things happen. This award belongs to our entire community, who made it possible,” said Flores.

Additionally, Tec de Monterrey's dean Juan Pablo Murra explained how distritotec (urban space where the Monterrey Innovation District is located) was developed.

During the “Global Responses: Spotlight on Monterrey” discussion, Murra explained that over a period of ten years, 24 neighborhoods in the southern area of Monterrey have been revitalized.

“We attracted talent, businesses, and research and innovation projects, transforming a declining urban environment into a vibrant ecosystem,” the rector said.

He also mentioned that this initiative emerged following a public safety crisis in the state, which affected the institution itself.

“We began by asking ourselves whether we should build walls, install cameras, or increase security measures. However, after speaking with a Colombian general, we realized that the opposite of insecurity isn’t securitybut collaboration,” he said.

Lorena Guillé-Laris, Director of FEMSA Foundation, presented the EXPEDITION FEMSA building as a space for innovation that was created in response to the Tec’s commitment to its community, which inspired the foundation to do the same.

“It isn’t a building. It’s a collective journey toward the future we want to build. We’re building a community of change agents who seek to bring about new solutions through collaboration and trust,” she said.

With information by Martha Mariano

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