Question of the Month: How would you describe your AOI/ID/STP relationship with the local authority (municipality/city)?

The relationship between a Science Park, Innovation District or Area of Innovation and its local authority is rarely straightforward, and this month's question of the month results highlight the important role that local authorities play in shaping and supporting these innovation ecosystems.  

This month, we asked members to describe their relationship with their local municipality or city. The responses painted a picture of an ecosystem that is broadly well connected to public institutions. The most common response (77%) was that members participate in activities organised by their municipality or city. More than half (53.8%) reported collaborating with their local authority on strategic planning or policy development. Meanwhile, 38.5% described their relationship as informal or occasional, while 30.8% noted that their municipality is represented on their Board of Directors. The same percentage (30.8%) said they organise activities jointly with the municipality outside the framework of AOI/ID/STP. Finally, 23.1% stated that the municipality is one of the park’s owners or shareholders. 

What the results point to, is the diversity of ways in which innovation ecosystems engage with public authorities, from governance and ownership structures to policy dialogue and joint programming. What seems consistent is that very few members reported having no relationship at all with their local authorities, underlining that meaningful engagement with cities and municipalities has become something close to a baseline expectation for well-functioning innovation spaces. 

Cities are increasingly looking at science parks, innovation districts and areas of innovation as partners in addressing urban challenges, from digital transformation and sustainability to talent attraction. The results of this month's question offer a reminder that building and maintaining those connections is itself a core part of what innovation ecosystems do.