3.2 Designing spaces that drive innovation A successful placemaking strategy must balance both the “hard” physical infrastructure and the “soft” social and cultural dynamics of a place. Design for diverse interactions Physical spaces should support a spectrum of interactions – from deep focus to casual encounters. Third spaces (e.g. cafés, lounges, green areas) are crucial as they lower the perception of social risk, encouraging spontaneous conversations. These spaces must be intentionally scaled, curated and activated – not large, empty expanses. Scale and social norms The scale of a space shapes behaviour. Environments that are vast and open can feel impersonal and discourage informal interaction. Researchers have found that open-plan offices can actually reduce face-to-face interaction by up to 70%, as people retreat into digital communication.34 To codify these findings into the design of places, cities such as Boston have developed Tactical Public Realm Guidelines,35 to foster interaction in public settings. Density and connectivity Innovation thrives on proximity and interaction. Communication frequency drops exponentially as physical distance increases, with findings that the Allen Curve principles hold true.36 Moving beyond the isolated business park models of the 1990s, contemporary research suggests that dense, well-connected environments foster serendipitous encounters. Singapore’s Punggol Digital District shows how this thinking can be integrated into innovation district design (see Innovation District Spotlight 9).37 The masterplan is designed to spark conversations and creativity by fully integrating business and commercial zones with the educational spaces of the Singapore Institute of Technology and the surrounding community.38 An 800 metre-long Campus Boulevard and 2 km of covered bridges link all buildings in the district, while workers, students and nearby residents share a park, shopping mall, food court and childcare centres. Green and natural spaces Green spaces are not just aesthetic – they support well-being, informality and climate resilience. Milan’s innovation district (MIND – see Innovation District Spotlight 5) is creating one of Europe’s largest series of interconnecting green parks, integrating 3,500 trees and nature-based solutions to support biodiversity and social interaction.39 Researchers have found that open-plan offices can actually reduce face-to-face interaction by up to 70%, as people retreat into digital communication. Innovation Ecosystems: A Toolkit of Principles and Best Practice 25

Innovation Ecosystems 2025