How Regional Innovation Strategies Take Shape: Lessons from Four Coalitions Pursuing Federal Investment

Regional innovation competitiveness relies not only on research, but on the effective deployment of technologies, proving that ideas can work beyond the lab. But in order to deploy technologies and scale economic growth, coalitions must tell a compelling story to funders about why investment in their communities is worthwhile. In this research paper, US Ignite, through the Supporting U.S. Regional Growth & Entrepreneurship program, explores how four regional coalitions addressed barriers to commercialization and developed clear, public-facing strategies to attract federal funding. Lessons learned from these case studies include:

• Connect your region’s capabilities directly to federal funding priorities
• Differentiate your region from competitors based on your community’s strength
• Demonstrate how your region can adapt and maintain relevance to emerging industries
• Illustrate how your innovation hub fits into the current policy landscape