Ann Arbor SPARK has joined The Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID) Global Network, aligning the region with a growing international cohort of districts advancing new models for innovation, economic development, and urban growth.
Through this network, Ann Arbor joins more than 50 innovation districts across 14 countries, all working to strengthen how research institutions, companies, startups, and communities come together to drive innovation and economic opportunity.
Innovation districts are compact, connected environments where leading research institutions, companies, and startups cluster alongside housing, retail, and public spaces. This model reflects a shift away from traditional, isolated research parks toward more integrated, collaborative ecosystems designed to support both economic growth and quality of life.
“Ann Arbor has long been a model for how research, talent, and industry come together to drive innovation to foster economic prosperity for our residents and our community,” said Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. “Through The Global Institute on Innovation Districts, we’re excited to learn from global leaders and help define what the next generation of innovation districts can achieve.”
Ann Arbor SPARK’s inclusion in the network reflects its strength as a research-driven economy, anchored by the University of Michigan and supported by a growing base of companies across mobility, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. The region’s collaborative ecosystem — connecting entrepreneurs, industry, investors, and public partners — positions it as a leader in place-based innovation.
Participation in the GIID Global Network will provide Ann Arbor SPARK with access to research, peer collaboration, and global best practices. Over the next two years, SPARK will take part in GIID’s Empower program, engaging in strategic sessions with other districts to address shared challenges and explore new approaches to growth, investment, and inclusion.
“In-depth research and on-the-ground practice demonstrate that successful innovation districts rely on a delicate balance between leveraging unique local assets and leading with intentionality. Strategic engagements with other districts around the world that are experimenting and driving cutting-edge practice provide the key to unlocking such intentionality. This is the value of the Global Network,” shared Julie Wagner, President of The Global Institute on Innovation Districts.
By participating in the network, Ann Arbor SPARK aims to both contribute to and learn from a global exchange of ideas — strengthening the region’s ability to attract investment, support startups, and expand access to opportunity.
About The Global Institute on Innovation Districts
The Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that conducts practice-oriented research on innovation districts—emerging urban geographies that concentrate innovation in cities and rapidly urbanizing areas. Under the leadership of its president, Julie Wagner, GIID combines deep analytics with real-world insights to understand how these districts evolve into engines of city and regional economic growth. Its mission is to accelerate the evolution of innovation districts into 21st-century problem-solving geographies that address major societal challenges, including climate change, infectious diseases, and social equity. Learn more at giid.org.
