INNOVATION DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT 1 Michigan Central – from abandoned train station to innovation hub through community-centred governance Overview For three decades, Michigan Central Station stood as Detroit’s most visible monument to decline – its broken windows and crumbling facade a symbol of the city’s struggles. Yet in the past seven years, it has been transformed into a 30-acre tech and cultural hub, with a mission to attract a wide range of creative talent to advance technologies and programmes that address some of humanity’s most critical challenges. Community empowerment Ford Motor Company purchased the 18-story landmark in June 2018.14 What happened next broke the mould of traditional corporate development. Rather than imposing a vision, Ford spent six months conducting community listening sessions with over 2,000 residents. The message was clear: no more development that pushed locals out. In response, Ford established Michigan Central as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2020, creating an unprecedented public-private governance structure. The State of Michigan invested millions, the City of Detroit provided tax incentives, while Ford itself committed $950 million to the project. In addition, the 15-member board included three community representatives holding veto power over technology deployments that affect public spaces.15 Building trust When the district began testing autonomous vehicles and smart city sensors, Michigan Central adopted the Digital Trust for Places and Routines (DTPR) framework16 – the first innovation district globally to do so. Interactive kiosks in English, Spanish and Arabic explain every pilot project, while QR codes link to real-time data dashboards showing exactly what information is being collected and how it is used.17 The Michigan Central model demonstrates that when governance structures give communities real power, innovation districts can rebuild trust while accelerating technological progress. Michigan Central Source: Michigan Central.18 Innovation Ecosystems: A Toolkit of Principles and Best Practice 15

Innovation Ecosystems 2025