Innovation District Wins ‘Outstanding Innovation District Award’

The Oklahoma City Innovation District was named the Association of University Research Parks’ (AURP) Outstanding Innovation District of the Year for 2021. The award was presented at AURP’s 2021 International Conference on Oct. 19, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

AURP’s annual Outstanding Innovation District Award recognizes innovation districts, science parks or research parks from around the world that have created exceptional ecosystems. Award-winning parks make significant contributions to their regions by supporting robust environments for innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization activities alongside educational institutions, as well as impacting the growth of scalable business and local economic health in their regions.  

The OKC Innovation District is designed to be an epicenter for collaboration, innovation, opportunity and economic growth. The District convenes divergent industries to create opportunities for next-level innovation, while positioning Oklahoma City as a leading competitor for new companies, jobs and talent in a global economy. Its purpose is to capitalize on OKC’s dominant industries; investing in high-quality places where research institutions, firms and talent concentrate and connect, and the district supports the entire region in being more competitive, both in attracting the investment and talent needed to further Oklahoma’s economic expansion.  

“Oklahoma City is very proud of this award and excited for the continuing development of our Innovation District,” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said.  “Our voters recently made a major financial commitment to the Innovation District through our MAPS 4 initiative, investments that will serve as a catalyst not just for growth, but for equitable and inclusive growth.  By any objective standard, Oklahoma City is booming right now, but to maintain that momentum we have to stay on the cutting edge, and this Innovation District ensures that we will.  I am proud of this award, but I know that we are just getting started.” 

The Outstanding Innovation District Award is presented by the Association of University Research Parks. AURP, founded in 1986, is a professional association of university-related research and science parks that foster innovation, commercialization and economic growth through university, industry and government partnerships. The association is represented in 42 U.S. states and across 12 countries.   

The Innovation District would like to thank its founding partners: The Alliance for Economic Development, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and OU Health, as well as the many members of its Partnership Program, for their continued support. 

For more information about the OKC Innovation District, visit www.okcinnovation.com, and for more information on AURP, visit www.aurp.net.  

The Oklahoma City Innovation District, founded in 2019, is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to creating an ecosystem that convenes scientists, researchers, academia and industry experts to collaborate and innovate new ideas and technologies that drive entrepreneurship and economic growth. The Innovation District receives support from The Alliance for Economic Development, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, OU Health, and the many members of our Partnership Program. For more information, please visit okcinnovation.com.