Initial renderings of upcoming developments in the Innovation District are from Robinson Park’s 2020 concept.
A Next-Level Innovation Ecosystem
The Oklahoma City Innovation District, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2019, is a thriving, 1.3 square mile ecosystem of collaboration, innovation and economic growth located in historic, Northeast Oklahoma City, surrounded by internationally acclaimed organizations spanning Oklahoma’s diverse sectors – healthcare, bioscience, aerospace & unmanned systems, specialized manufacturing, academia, technology and energy.
The District stretches beyond its physical boundaries. It reaches into Oklahoma’s Innovation Pipeline with resources, programming and state-of-the-art facilities to facilitate cross-industry collaboration through the convergence of scientists, researchers, academics and industry experts, all focused on sparking new ideas that create new business and new jobs to further Oklahoma’s economy.
Get innovation District News delivered to you
On the second Tuesday of each month, the OKC Innovation District hosts its Cocktails & Collaboration happy hour series. The happy hour runs from 5:30-6:30p, and the location rotates among restaurants, bars and breweries throughout the District’s physical boundaries. Follow us on social media to get the latest updates on our happy hour locations, feature organizations and more.
“The Innovation District’s monthly Cocktails and Collaboration Happy Hours are the most well-attended & diverse happy hours in Oklahoma City… People from varying backgrounds, professions and interests all coexist at them, and there’s always impactful conversation around innovation.”
-Steve Mason | Oklahoma City Developer
The economy of the region is diverse. Oklahoma City boasts an increasingly diversified economy, with aviation and aerospace making up the largest sector in both employment and economic impact. Bioscience, energy and logistics industries also play a significant role in the market. With an impressive corporate presence, innovative incentives, and a low cost of doing business, the varied economy positions the OKC Innovation District for dynamic synergies.
The state’s next cultural destination, a contemporary arts center in downtown Oklahoma City, will open in January of 2020. At Oklahoma Contemporary, the art and innovation of tomorrow will be forged through the creative connections between different art forms and ideas.
OKC is catching the attention of ambitious entrepreneurs because of a strong research community, the ability to hire talent quickly and cheaply, an influx of millennials, and quality of life. Throughout OKC’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, there are tools to help your small business succeed. The low cost of living and labor, central location in middle America, good schools and low taxes and regulations have turned OKC into an entrepreneurial paradise.
OKC’s renaissance has been fertile turf for ambition, and one result is redefining the restaurant arena. The last five years have seen a quantum leap in Oklahoma City’s inventory of ambitious, one-of-a-kind restaurants. With a keen instinct for what’s needed next – and where – a handful of savvy chefs and entrepreneurs has broadened the city’s culinary horizons. Oklahoma City isn’t a fly-over city — it’s a food destination.
