2.4 Maturity Changing business models and the growing influence of technology in the wider economy underline the importance of inclusive governance to anticipate how future trends will affect innovation processes and business operations in innovation districts. Future-orientated governance for scaling-up and evolution Governance frameworks for mature innovation districts need to balance several tensions. They must remain true to meeting entrepreneurs’ needs and encourage broad participation in decision- making, while achieving growth, which itself can erode a sense of agency as the number of players in the ecosystem grows. Also, the most ambitious must use governance to scale up for global recognition while maintaining local roots. Governance frameworks should increasingly prioritize self-sustaining measures over time to reduce dependence on government intervention, while maintaining appropriate public sector oversight. This underscores the importance of horizon-scanning to stay alert to changing political priorities and funding landscapes. Crucially, they must demonstrate that the impact they achieve justifies the investment, thereby delivering on the sustainable guiding innovation principle. Physical and organizational hubs to support governance Within mature innovation districts, it is possible to create physical focal points or hubs that serve as common gathering places in which ecosystem participants regularly interact while maintaining neutrality. CIC’s facility in Cambridge, US, exemplifies this approach, housing dozens of large corporations, VCs and angel investors, multiple accelerator programmes and numerous service industry players, all working on a level playing field with no preferential access to business opportunity. Done right, hubs of this type can grow steadily over time, taking over space in neighbouring buildings, effectively becoming the “central business district” of the innovation ecosystem. Governance for technology preparedness Driven by accelerating technology trends, the digital infrastructure and information technology requirements of tenants are becoming increasingly central to the success of innovation districts. Governance frameworks must address the risk of obsolescence as technology markets change, while maintaining a focus on frontier innovation opportunities as they relate to the particular specialization of the innovation district. Future councils or similar advisory bodies must take on the role of anticipating emerging trends – such as the arrival of 6G wireless network technology – and guide strategic planning processes to ensure that districts remain relevant as technological landscapes evolve and investment in the technology itself is both proportionate and adaptive. Innovation Ecosystems: A Toolkit of Principles and Best Practice 22

Innovation Ecosystems 2025