The Oklahoma City Innovation District 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.
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.
