February Question of the Month' results are in

Every month, we ask our members to provide their insights on many of the most pressing issues in our industry. This February, the question on our minds centered on the involvement of citizens in their local innovation spaces.  

Given the impact of AOIs/IDs/STPs on their local environments, it’s only natural that the broader community would be engaged in these spaces. But how many of our members are actively reaching out to their community and making efforts to keep citizens involved?  

When asked whether they involve citizens in their AOI/ID/STP, a clear majority (over 74%) of respondents said they do. Of those who responded yes, nearly 47% said they do so by hosting social activities and cultural events aimed at garnering community engagement. Another 21% said they go a step further in involving citizens, by including them in their committees as representatives.  

Though fewer, 7% of respondents reported including their citizens in a dedicated living lab – open innovation ecosystems based on a systematic co-creation approach with the community that integrates research and innovation. About a quarter of respondents did not actively involve their communities through outreach, representation, or co-creation. 

From this poll, it’s clear that the majority of respondents show a preference for ensuring their community is involved in the activities of their AOI/ID/STP. Given the impact these spaces have on their community, we believe that community involvement can improve how favourably citizens view innovation spaces and the support garnered over time. 

We’d like to thank all our respondents for sharing their feedback on this important matter that takes a broader look at the various stakeholders involved in our industry. Please keep an eye out for next month’s question.