- A Cross-City Learning Collaborative

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A Cross-City Learning Collaborative

What is InnovateNC?

Backed by a diverse group of Partners, InnovateNC is a two-year cross-city learning collaborative supporting five North Carolina communities as they look to accelerate the growth of their innovation economies. Selected cities will receive tools and technical assistance valued at no less than $250,000 over the course of the two-year project.

Structure of InnovateNC

Intensive Two-Year Planning Process within Each Selected City
Cross-City Convenings to Focus Learning and build Strong Relationships
Data-Driven Decision Making
Innovative Policy-Making at the Municipal and State Level
Knowledge Sharing through Storytelling
Supportive Supplemental Programming

To learn more about Innovate NC and the benefits for participating cities please enjoy the video and take a look at the InnovateNC Overview.

The Importance of Innovation

More and more, innovation drives economic prosperity. What factors or inputs are most important for achieving overall economic growth and well-being in an innovation-driven global economy? Recently, Institute of Emerging Issues (IEI) collaborated with the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Office of Science, Technology & Innovation (OSTI) to explore the question. North Carolina’s current innovation ranking is unexceptional and we must do better. Their new study points the way. The following short video helps illustrate their findings.

Detailed discussion of their research approach

Today, innovation is taking place where people can come together, not in isolated spaces. Innovation districts are this century’s productive geography, they are both competitive places and ‘cool spaces’ and they will transform your city and metropolis. Enjoy the short clip on The Metropolitan Revolution: The New Geography of Innovation and please continue to read about The Rise of Innovation Districts to see what they are, how to grow, and the path to move forward.

Participating Communities for InnovateNC

The announcement was made Friday, September 4, 2015 that the five North Carolina communities selected as participants in InnovateNC are:

Asheville
Greensboro
Pembroke
Wilmington/Carolina Coast
Wilson

Read the full press release.

See a portion of our reaction to the announcement.

Wilson selected for InnovateNC
Rodger Lentz, Kimberly Van Dyk, Grant Goings, Paula Benson, and Mayor Bruce Rose at the official InnovateNC announcement and press conference.