Innovation Ecosystems 2025

INNOVATION DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT 5 Milan Innovation District (MIND) – large-scale urban regeneration site for scaling-up innovation (continued) Success factors and lessons learnt –Designing for interaction, not just function: Early designs focused heavily on infrastructure and innovation facilities. Later phases emphasized placemaking as a catalyst for community and creativity, leading to the common ground strategy.  –Balancing global ambitions with local needs: MIND’s international profile and success risked alienating nearby communities. Placemaking efforts such as open parks and inclusive programming helped bridge the gap between global innovation and local relevance.  –Green space as a strategic asset: Rather than treating green areas as aesthetic add-ons, MIND embedded them as functional, programmable spaces – supporting health, mobility and biodiversity. –Flexibility in use and identity: Spaces such as MIND Village evolved to accommodate changing tenant needs, from start-ups to large firms, requiring adaptive architecture and modular public spaces. In other areas, MIND builds on its local heritage, using a historic farmhouse from Expo 2015 as a social innovation hub to embed civic functions into the district’s core.  –Transit and accessibility as placemaking enablers: Proximity to metro and rail lines was leveraged to make MIND a gateway to Milan, reinforcing its role as a regional connector and not just a standalone campus. Source: MIND.40 Image credit: MIND Innovation Ecosystems: A Toolkit of Principles and Best Practice 27