What a city needs to foster innovation: cafes, bike lanes, and 3D printers

Talented people want to work and live in urban places that are walkable, bike-able, connected by transit, and hyper-caffeinated. Major companies across multiple sectors are practicing “open innovation” and want to be close to other firms, research labs, and universities. Entrepreneurs want to start their companies in collaborative spaces, where they can share ideas and have efficient access to everything from legal advice to sophisticated lab equipment. These disruptive forces are coming to ground in small, primarily urban enclaves—what we and others are calling “innovation districts.”