CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Innovation District, announced Monday, is another step in the “rise of the innovation district,” a trend in the academic and business world that boosts start-up and business development in cities worldwide by outlining a physical area for investment and collaboration.
Innovation districts are a combination of existing buildings and potential future investments in offices, venture labs, storefronts and other physical spaces. For Cleveland, that means pulling in talent from Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University, as well as the three major hospitals. The district’s formation comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, which challenged the core idea of innovation districts — that proximity sparks collaboration. Office workers have been working from home, and most meetings and organizing happen virtually.
So, how can an innovation…
