A look at the different roles universities can play in fostering innovation districts as economic an revitalization strategy.

1. Innovation Districts:
What They Are, What They Need, and How
They Foster Economic Growth
New Jersey Future
Redevelopment Forum 2013
New Brunswick, NJ
March 1, 2013
Innovation Districts: What They Are, What They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth

2. Innovation Districts: What They Are, What
They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth
 Donald H. Sebastian Ph.D., Senior Vice President for
Research and Development, New Jersey Institute of
Technology (Moderator)
 Debbie Hart CAE, APR, President and CEO, BioNJ
 Maureen Hassett, Senior Vice President and Development,
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
 Martin Schiffman, Managing Partner, Waterfront
Renaissance Associates LP
Innovation Districts: What They Are, What They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth

3. Innovation districts
Innovation districts are based
on the premise that
collaboration and productivity
result from proximity, and
therefore job creation and
innovation can be fostered
through the intentional
clustering of businesses,
institutions, ideas and people.
Innovation Districts: What They Are, What They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth

4. Building a Cluster
Transplant Diversify
Existing Technologically
Industry
Consumer Electronics Opto-electronics
Workforce Skill
Taipei-Hsinchu,TW Rochester, NY
Automobiles Advanced Elastomers
Greenville, SC Akron, OH
Upgrade Mature Create a New
“UNIVERSITIES,
Industry Industry INNOVATION, AND
THE
Industrial Machinery Microprocessors COMPETITIVENESS
Tampere, FINN Silicon Valley, CA OF LOCAL
Ceramics Wireless ECONOMIES: A
Summary Report from
Alfred-Corning, NY Helsinki, FINN the Local Innovation
Systems Project—
Phase I”, Richard K.
Innovation Lester, Industrial
Performance Center,
MIT
Innovation Districts: What They Are, What They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth

5. University Roles in Regional
Innovation • Bridging disconnected
• Workforce development actors
• Responsive Curricula • Filling “structural holes”
• Technical assistance • Creating an industry
for supply chain identity
• Forefront science &
Transplant Diversify engineering research
• Problem solving by • Aggressive technology
contract research & licensing policies
faculty consulting • Promote/assist
• Workforce development entrepreneurial
• Global best practice
Upgrade Create businesses
scanning • Cultivate ties between
• Convening stakeholder academics & local
forums entrepreneurs
• Create an industry
identity
“UNIVERSITIES, INNOVATION, AND THE COMPETITIVENESS OF LOCAL ECONOMIES: A Summary Report from the Local
Innovation Systems Project—Phase I”, Richard K. Lester, Industrial Performance Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Innovation Districts: What They Are, What They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth

6. Crucible of US
Industry
D. Sarnoff
T. Edison
A. Bell
Johnson Brothers
J. Rockefeller
J. Campbell G.W. Merck
L. Baekeland
Innovation Districts: What They Are, What They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth

7. Cluster Opportunities for NJ
Biotech Transp. & Financial Advanced Info. Healthcare
Pharma Logistics Services Mfg. Tech
EMR
Systems
Dist. Solar
Generation
Regen
Medicine
Medical
Devices
Location
Aware Tech
Innovation Districts: What They Are, What They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth

8. Innovation Districts: What They Are, What
They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth
 Donald H. Sebastian Ph.D., Senior Vice President for
Research and Development, New Jersey Institute of
Technology (Moderator)
 Debbie Hart CAE, APR, President and CEO, BioNJ
 Maureen Hassett, Senior Vice President and Development,
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
 Martin Schiffman, Managing Partner, Waterfront
Renaissance Associates LP
Innovation Districts: What They Are, What They Need, and How They Foster Economic Growth