For years, the BNMC has played an active role in helping shape conversations around innovation districts and the future of cities, cross-sector partnerships, and community investment.
As a founding steering committee member of the Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID), we regularly engage with innovation district leaders from around the world through research, knowledge sharing, and peer exchanges. GIID was established to connect innovation districts globally, encourage shared learning, and advance best practices across the field.
The BNMC is one of the earlier innovation districts in North America, dating back to our founding in 2002, and has often served as a reference point for other districts exploring how institutions, government, philanthropy, and community partners can work together to support long-term investment and neighborhood revitalization.
Many of these same themes are explored in City Forward: How Innovation Districts Can Embrace Risk and Strengthen Community, the 2022 book authored by BNMC President & CEO Matt Enstice, which examines how innovation districts can strengthen communities and approach urban investment through a more connected and inclusive lens.
This week, the BNMC participated in a peer exchange with the Melbourne Innovation District in Australia focused on how innovation districts are adapting to changing workforce, economic, and community needs in a post-pandemic environment. The discussion was led on behalf of BNMC by Jamie Hamann-Burney, Chief Strategy Officer, who shared the history and continued evolution of the Campus since our founding in 2002.
During the exchange, Jamie highlighted how BNMC was shaped through partnerships between anchor institutions, local government, philanthropic organizations, and the broader community. He also spoke about our governance structure, including the Campus Board and work councils that help guide initiatives and strengthen coordination across the district.
Additional topics included federal and state policy shifts, evolving urban trends, and exploring new funding opportunities and partnership models to support long-term sustainability and continued momentum.
As innovation districts continue to evolve globally, we remain committed to learning from peer districts around the world while also contributing Buffalo’s perspective and experience to the broader conversation around innovation, connectivity, and community life.