How Regional Innovation Strategies Take Shape: Lessons from Four Coalitions Pursuing Federal Investment
Regional innovation competitiveness relies not only on research, but on the effective deployment of technologies, proving that ideas can work beyond the lab. But in order to deploy technologies and scale economic growth, coalitions must tell a compelling story to funders about why investment in their communities is worthwhile.
In this research paper, US Ignite through the Supporting U.S. Regional Growth & Entrepreneurship (SURGE) program explores how the following four regional coalitions addressed barriers to commercialization and developed clear, public-facing strategies to attract federal funding:
- MedTech, GREATER MSP (Minnesota)
- Polymer Industry Cluster (Akron)
- iFAB Tech Hub (Champaign-Urbana)
- KC BioHub (Kansas City)
Lessons learned from these case studies include:
- Connect your region’s capabilities directly to federal funding priorities
- Differentiate your region from competitors based on your community’s strength
- Demonstrate how your region can adapt and maintain relevance to emerging industries
- Illustrate how your innovation hub fits into the current policy landscape
Read the paper below and learn more about how effectively marketing and positioning your regional innovation coalition can help your community successfully secure federal investment.
