Beyond the lab: Why Innovation Districts are changing how we build business
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
If you have spent any time in property or economic development, you will know that the term "business park" is outdated. Modern companies, particularly those in high-growth technology sectors, do not just want office space. They want a place where they can solve problems, test prototypes, and work alongside the researchers who invented the technology in the first place.
This is the shift behind Innovation Districts. They are not merely collections of buildings; they are purpose driven places, designed to turn a research breakthrough into a commercial product as quickly as possible.
What is an Innovation District?
At its simplest, an Innovation District is a place where industry, universities, and investors co-locate to accelerate growth. The goal is simple: to reduce the time it takes to move from a laboratory experiment to a market-ready product.
These districts are focus-led and purpose driven. They are designed for R&D-intensive firms that need access to specialist facilities, high-spec power, tailored business support, and a pipeline of talent being trained right next door.
The Durham approach: NETPark and Aykley Heads
In County Durham, we are focusing on two flagship sites that represent the future of this model. They are complementary, each serving a specific purpose in the business lifecycle.
NETPark: This is our established deep-tech hub, designed for businesses that need to scale. NETPark works because it is built around the "commercialisation journey." Whether you are a start-up in the Orbit+ programme or a global manufacturer, you have access to R&D facilities, pilot manufacturing space, and support from the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI). Companies like Kromek and Filtronic exemplify the model; they grew from a start-up here into a global business without ever leaving the site. That is the point of a district—it offers room to grow with facilities such as commercial lab space as well as keeping the IP, the jobs, and the supply chain local.
Aykley Heads / Durham Innovation District (MDZ): This is our vision for the next generation of work. While NETPark is built for deep-tech and hardware, Aykley Heads is home to our data-driven future. It focuses on AI, digital services, and green energy. By establishing a direct partnership with Durham University and housing a supercomputing facility, we are providing the infrastructure digital-first businesses need to compete. And, as a recently announced as a Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ), the site offers investors offers greater certainty and lower risk, with streamlined planning, coordinated infrastructure to accelerate development.
Why these districts matter for the investor
Innovation districts work because of the partnership model behind them. By bringing together the local authority, the university, and industry-led research centres, we provide a level of stewardship that is hard to find elsewhere.
We are building places where the lab meets the market. For an investor, this means you are backing a site anchored in research, supported by ongoing investment, and designed to retain the companies that set up shop there.
If you want to understand how these districts fit into your portfolio, let us talk. We have the sites, the research, and the long-term plan in place.
Hear the plan, and speak to us at UKREiiF.
Innovation Districts
Wednesday 20th, 10.00am Location: North East England Pavilion (Water Pavilion 14, Pink Zone)
