Innovation District Concept Plan 2024 by ibi-gmu

INNOVATION DISTRICT CONCEPT PLAN 2024

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

An exciting new chapter is beginning in Northern Virginia as George Mason University, the City of Manassas, Prince William County, and their business community are collaborating to activate the area around George Mason’s SciTech Campus into an innovation district. The Innovation District will serve as an intentional response to the unique and critical opportunity presented by the impressive growth trajectory of this metropolitan area and the immense potential of this location and partnership.

INTRODUCING THE INNOVATION DISTRICT

This transformative initiative will establish an innovation district that is an interconnected hub of discovery, commerce, and community, and home to world-leading researchers, innovative companies, a highly trained workforce, and thriving residents.

By leveraging the status of the George Mason SciTech Campus as a cutting-edge research center and the welcoming, business-friendly environments of Manassas and Prince William County, the Innovation District will connect ideas, industry, academia, and talent to create lasting benefits for the community. The Innovation District will work to strengthen industry-academic partnerships, offer workforce

training programs that are responsive to industry needs, accelerate emerging technology start-ups, support businesses at all stages of growth, attract young professionals with dynamic spaces and opportunities, and ultimately build community by fostering connection, outreach, and inclusion.

Serving as a catalyst, convener, connector, communicator, and capacity-builder, the Innovation District will be a destination for ambitious minds to fuel lasting economic growth and well-being in the City of Manassas, Prince William County, and beyond.

PILLARS TO ESTABLISH A STRONG FOUNDATION

This concept development plan provides a pathway for the Innovation District leaders to bring this visionary initiative to fruition and sustainable success. Tactical recommendations are organized around three pillars (Figure 1) to support the community in launching and sustaining the Innovation District.

Across recommendations in all three pillars, there will be an embedded focus on the identified priority sectors (Life Sciences,

Biotechnology, and Forensics; Aerospace and Defense; Cybersecurity and Data Infrastructure; and Semiconductors and Electronics) and on leveraging assets in the enabling sectors (Technology-Focused Areas and Foundational Sciences). Establishing this multi-sector focus in the foundation of the Innovation District development ensures that resources are maximized and results are accelerated, all the while promoting interdisciplinary connections and clustering opportunities.

1: Overview of pillars and strategic recommendations for the Innovation District, 20241

MARKETING AND BRANDING

A strategic approach to marketing and branding will enable the District to establish an identity, attract businesses and stakeholders, and gain recognition and growth.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION

Focusing on strengthening industry support and collaboration will enable the District to build a connected ecosystem where businesses, talent, and the community thrive together.

WORKFORCE PROGRAMMING

Developing intentional and tailored workforce programming will strengthen the talent pipeline, supporting company growth and priority sector advancement.

Figure

Source: Stiletto Analysis

THE TIME IS NOW

With actionable recommendations and metrics to measure progress, every aspect of this plan focuses on advancing the Innovation District to establish a thriving innovation ecosystem.

This unique opportunity will put Northern Virginia on the global map, establishing the community as an innovative, dialed-in

destination of choice for industry, workforce, students, and great minds in all stages of their journey.

BACKGROUND

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of this project is to develop the concept for an innovation district in partnership with George Mason University, the City of Manassas, and Prince William County and their business community. Within this report is a coordinated approach to leveraging the many regional assets to expand the area’s impact and reputation as a collaborator and leader in priority sectors including Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Forensics; Aerospace and Defense; Cybersecurity and Data Infrastructure; and Semiconductors and Electronics. The vision for the Innovation District is supported by three pillars, each of which includes recommendations to achieve specific, measurable outcomes. This report positions the Innovation District to seize its potential and fulfill its role as a connector, convener, and catalyst for innovation.

METHODOLOGY

The development of this plan is grounded in comprehensive market intelligence and stakeholder engagement, including:

• Comparator analysis: A total of 11 comparable hubs were scanned for key features (e.g., sector focus, size, programming) to discern best practices

and inform the identification of key differentiator(s) for the proposed District (Appendix I).

• Asset mapping: Inputs regarding the innovation ecosystem, educational programming, research excellence, workforce and industry counts, and other supporting data were collected.

• SWOT analysis: Analyzing the data gathered throughout the exercise, an assessment of strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities was conducted.

• Sector analysis: The Stiletto Sector Identification Process was used to identify priority sectors that will enable the Innovation District to concentrate its efforts and resources in ways that produce maximum impact.

• Real estate review: Stiletto reviewed the real estate landscape in Prince William County and Manassas, including inventory and occupancy levels for four primary types of commercial properties: retail, flex, office, and industrial. Some details were also provided for vacant land sales and wet lab space.

• Community outreach: To gather feedback from the broader community, focus groups, industry roundtables, a survey, and individual interviews were conducted.

A total of 722,155 data points were collected across these components and analyzed to identify key strengths to leverage to address emerging challenges and inform the concept development. Appendix II contains additional details on the data sources and methodology used to inform the plan. A separate Data Input Summary document provides a summary of insights and details from each of the components that informed the plan.

ABOUT STILETTO

Stiletto: Make a Point is a strategic planning and market research firm that specializes in the development of innovation hubs and districts of all sizes. We are passionate about establishing and expanding communities of innovation and discovery. Working at the intersection of academia, industry, and government, we have developed evidence-based strategies that have accelerated success for more than 200 clients.

The Innovation District will be an interconnected hub of discovery, commerce, and community that is home to world-leading researchers, innovative companies, a highly trained, diverse workforce, and thriving residents.

Bringing together world-class facilities, expertise, and resources to accelerate economic impact for George Mason University, Manassas, and Prince William County.

THE INNOVATION DISTRICT VISION MISSION

GOALS

Build community by fostering connection, outreach, and inclusion. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Strengthen partnerships between industry and academic institutions to build a strong talent pipeline and attract, retain, and grow businesses.

Offer education and workforce training programs that meet industry needs.

Create an environment that enables the exchange of ideas between innovation generators in academia, industry, government, and health care.

Attract and retain young professionals with dynamic spaces, amenities, and exciting job opportunities.

Establish resources and support to accelerate emerging technology start-ups.

Offer programs and services to help businesses at all stages of growth prosper.

The Role of the Innovation District

Catalyst: To be the catalyst in building innovation ecosystem capacity in the priority sectors (Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Forensics; Aerospace and Defense; Cybersecurity and Data Infrastructure; and Semiconductors and Electronics).

Convener: To bring together academia, industry, and government to maximize support and impact for companies, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

Connector: To facilitate and reinforce strategic partnerships and networks between researchers, companies, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

Communicator: To champion and publicize the achievements, opportunities, and contributions of companies, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the District to raise visibility.

Capacity-builder: To work with existing educational assets to ensure the region develops and retains a highly qualified talent pipeline.

GENERATING IMPACT FOR ALL PARTNERS

Creating the Innovation District aligns with the strategic priorities of partners George Mason, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas. It will also provide benefits to Northern Virginia Community College and will help local businesses to thrive and grow.

Benefits to George Mason University:

• Perception and Profile: Increases George Mason’s reputation as a leader in innovation, attracting students and faculty.

• Expand Impact: Expands the impact of George Mason’s research, scholarship, and creative enterprise.

• Industry Sponsored Research, Collaboration, and Joint Funding Opportunities: Attracts industry research funding to enable stacking funding opportunities.

• National Profile and Positioning: Positions George Mason to compete for large tech hubs and other large-scale proposal and program opportunities.

• Enhances Student Experience: Strengthens experiential learning and opportunities for students.

• Commercialization and Technology Transfer: Supports moving innovations into market, accelerating and supporting technology transfer and commercialization.

Benefits to Prince William County:

• Economic Return: Grows jobs and increases the gross regional product (GRP).

• Economic Development: Supports business attraction and retention.

• Workforce Development: Increases workforce development and educational attainment.

• Identify Strategic Growth Opportunities: Leverages Innovation Park investment to support county strategic growth initiatives and priorities.

• Focus and Intentional Development: Supports clarity and focus for intentional development aligned with the strategic sectors within the District.

• Positioning: Positions the county as a leader in innovation and economic growth.

• Cluster Development and Collaboration: Provides a mechanism for bringing together industry partners for increased collaboration and potential growth opportunities.

Benefits to the City of Manassas:

• Positioning: Positions Manassas as a leader in innovation and economic growth.

• Cluster Development and Collaboration: Provides a mechanism for bringing together large multi-national scale industry partners for increased collaboration and potential growth opportunities.

• Supports Density and Impact in Historic Downtown Manassas: The District will create greater access to transportation and movement of people between the District and downtown Manassas.

• Increases Buy-Local Opportunities: Increased traffic in downtown Manassas will contribute to local business engagement for other service industries and sectors beyond the target ICT and high-tech sectors.

• Economic Return: Grows jobs and increases GRP.

• Economic Development: Supports business attraction, expansion, and retention.

• Workforce Development: Increases workforce development and educational attainment for under-served and underrepresented groups in STEM industries.

Benefits to Industry:

• Workforce: Increases access to a diverse, skilled workforce, which is needed to support current needs and future growth.

• Collaboration: Provides additional opportunities to collaborate with other businesses and the university to drive innovation.

• Research and Development: Builds access to core research facility expertise, advanced technology, and equipment to support research and development.

• Talent Retention: Provides opportunities for mentorship and professional development for workers from early career stages through to senior leadership.

• Brand Identity: Provides a distinct identity to support branding and marketing efforts of companies on a national and global scale.

• Start-Up Programming: Increases access to programming to support start-up and earlystage company success.

Benefits to Northern Virginia Community College:

• Experiential Learning Opportunities: Increases opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning opportunities with local companies.

• Increased Student Enrollment: Helps drive student enrollment, including mature students interested in upskilling or reskilling.

• New Programs: Supports the creation of new programs informed by industry demand.

• Industry Collaboration: Increased access to industry expertise and a pool of adjunct faculty.

LOCATION

The proposed Innovation District will be in the geography around George Mason University’s SciTech Campus in Prince William County and the city of Manassas, rooted in local culture and community.

Source: Stiletto Analysis

Figure 2: Map of the Innovation District, 20242

Figure 3: Map

THE OPPORTUNITY

The proposed Innovation District represents a unique and critical opportunity to capitalize on the immense potential of the Innovation District location, the partnership between George Mason, the City of Manassas, and Prince William County, and the current moment.

WHY HERE?

Situated in a growing metropolitan area, the Innovation District uniquely positions the partners at the nexus of innovation and economic growth. With access to D.C. and Northern Virginia’s thriving economy, this area is strategically situated near federal agencies, research institutions, and private sector leaders, enabling collaboration on a national scale.

The District will foster collaboration among the project partners, George Mason University, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas. It will also promote greater collaboration between these partners and Northern Virginia Community College and the business community.

George Mason University’s SciTech Campus already serves as a center for cutting-edge research in biomedicine, forensic science, nanotechnology, and serious gaming. This foundation provides immediate value to companies seeking partnerships by anchoring the District with access to advanced technologies, research capabilities, and a skilled workforce.

Prince William County and Manassas offer a welcoming, business-friendly environment. With fast-track permitting, low taxes, and federal incentives such as Opportunity and HUBZones which facilitate business access to funding, the region reduces barriers to companies to establish and scale operations. This contributes to an environment that will attract businesses and foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem, which the District will amplify.

The presence of high-quality educational institutions in the area, including George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College, ensures a steady talent pipeline to support the local workforce. Programs like Grow Manassas and Mason ADVANCE exemplify a commitment to aligning education with workforce needs and creating a future-ready workforce.

Businesses in the proposed District have expressed a desire for increased coordination and highlighted the opportunity for a unified brand and marketing strategy to increase recognition and impact.4 The District will serve as a unifying

entity that contributes to meeting industry needs, strengthening the local talent pipeline, and supporting local businesses and innovation.

The Innovation District surrounding the SciTech Campus represents a unique opportunity to harness the many strengths of this region. The District will provide opportunities for increased collaboration, cohesion, and collision, resulting in outcomes that are greater than the sum of their parts.

WHY NOW?

The region that will be home to the Innovation District is experiencing above-average workforce and population growth, with the City of Manassas and Prince William County outpacing state and national population growth rates by 6.9 percent and 3.5 percent respectively. This impressive trajectory represents a unique window of opportunity: establishing the District now ensures the area can harness this momentum and transform this growth trend into long-term economic and innovation leadership.

Fueling this potential is George Mason’s recordhigh research expenditures, which highlight a surge in innovation-related activity from $149.1 million (2018) to $230.1 million (2022).5 By aligning the District with this strength in research expenditures, the region can attract companies and entrepreneurs seeking cuttingedge collaboration opportunities and drive advancements and innovation.

The post-pandemic economy has highlighted the importance of regional innovation ecosystems. Companies and individuals are increasingly prioritizing locations that offer a balance of advanced research infrastructure, businessfriendly environments, and high quality of life. The District is poised to meet and exceed these demands, and to position the region as a leader in addressing these emerging priorities, ensuring it becomes a destination of choice for businesses, innovators, and workers.

Establishing the Innovation District now also aligns with broader state and federal priorities. Governments are prioritizing investments in technology, STEM education, and workforce reskilling. Creating the District now positions the region as a frontrunner to secure these resources and to leverage them to catalyze further economic growth. With its alignment with key policy priorities, and readiness to deliver tangible outcomes, the District is both a response to current trends and demands as well as a proactive step toward future prosperity.

In a rapidly evolving economic landscape, seizing this moment ensures the region can move from being a fast-growing area to a globally recognized hub for innovation and collaboration. This is the time to act—not only to capitalize on existing momentum but to solidify the region’s position as a leader in the innovation economy for decades to come.

BUILDING ON EXISTING STRENGTHS

Growing and Highly Educated Community: From 2023-28, the populations of Manassas and Prince William County are expected to grow by 10.1 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively, a higher rate than that of the MSA (2.7%) and state (3.2%). During the same period, age groups 20-24 and 25-29 are projected to increase, signifying the presence of a growing workforce6. Prince William County and Manassas also have high rates of educational attainment: 43.9 percent of residents in Prince William County have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which is the third-highest percentage of attainment in the state and another strong workforce contributor.7 Prince William County also has a large veteran population (9.8%, about 10.0% higher than the rate in Virginia and 150.0% higher than the national rate), many of whom may be eligible for education benefits and well-suited to professions in the priority sectors.8

Maximizing Research Capabilities: An RI research institution, George Mason University was the highest-ranked university in Virginia and eighth in the nation for innovation (2024), embracing an inclusive approach that encourages students and faculty to take intellectual risks and freely share ideas.9 In 2022, the university reported its highest research expenditures in the five-year period of 201822, totaling $230.1 million, indicating growth of 54.3 percent since 2018.10 George Mason University’s SciTech Campus includes premier research facilities such as the Biomedical Research Laboratory, one of a dozen NIAIDfunded regional biocontainment labs in the U.S., used to advance research and develop novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines against viral and bacterial infectious agents. The campus also boasts an outdoor forensic research facility, one of only eight in the country, a Class 1000 clean room facility open to internal and external users. Another distinguishing asset is a Clinical Proteomics Laboratory (CPL) led by CAPMM, accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The CPL enables the translation of groundbreaking research into clinical applications.

Business-Friendly Community: Prince William County and the City of Manassas offer business-friendly environments through numerous initiatives and policies. The City of Manassas fast-tracks permitting and offers low

business taxes and large incentive packages for businesses, including facade and landscaping incentives.11 Manassas is home to a federally designated Opportunity Zone and federally designated HUBZone. These two designations support businesses to access federal funding toward continued job growth in the area.12

Jump Starting Commercialization and Entrepreneurship: There are numerous assets to support start-ups in the area, as indicated by the growing ecosystem of biotech start-ups at

Innovation Park, a 1,500-acre corporate research park in Prince William County.13 Prince William County also established and manages the Prince William Science Accelerator for life science startups and offers Ignite grants to qualifying startups. Step-up commercial wet lab space is available in the Northern Virginia Bioscience Center, and co-working spaces are available in Manassas at Center Fuse. The region is also home to the Virginia Serious Games Institute, the only institute of its kind globally incubating and supporting serious games start-ups.

Expanding Industry Collaboration: The SciTech Campus at George Mason University supports industry collaboration through programs focused on applied research and business development. Resources available through Mason Enterprise Center such as innovation commercialization assistance mentors, Mason Innovation Exchange incubator, APEX Accelerator, National Science Foundation I-Corps program, and the Office of Technology Transfer connect businesses with resources for research commercialization, mentorship, and access to capital.14 The SciTech Campus has a record of translating research into practical applications, with 15 start-ups, 145 patents, and 19 active licenses originating from the campus.15 Facilities such as the Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research and the Virginia Serious Games Institute collaborate on research translation with industry.16 In addition, regional organizations, including the Prince William County and City of Manassas Departments of Economic Development, play a key role in attracting businesses and fostering partnerships, aligning with SciTech’s focus on technology-driven industries and applied innovation.17 These programs provide a strong foundation that can be leveraged to support new and existing industries in the District.

Excellent Workforce Training Available: The presence of excellent educational institutions with successful industry partnerships positions the District well to offer upskilling and reskilling training that is grounded in workforce needs. George Mason offers several experiential learning opportunities to students (e.g., Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program and Early Identification Program) and the Governor’s School @ Innovation Park is located on the SciTech Campus to contribute to developing a strong talent pipeline.18 Furthermore, George Mason and Northern Virginia Community College have partnered to offer ADVANCE, to create an easy transition for students between the institutions and successful attainment of a bachelor’s degree. In 2023, the City of Manassas and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) launched Grow Manassas, an innovative program that addresses career readiness and workforce development by offering free technical training and professional certifications to residents.19 These assets align strongly with industry needs articulated by survey respondents, who anticipated the need for skills related to artificial intelligence, technology hardware and equipment, and software and computer skills to grow over the next five years (2024-29).20 Respondents also anticipated needing project management, leadership, and communication skill development.21 Existing programs through George Mason and NOVA offer an excellent foundation for the District to expand programming that contributes to building a future-ready workforce.

Connectivity Near and Far: The Innovation District is well connected to major cities and is near to Washington, D.C.’s thriving economy. The District also has access to two large airports as well as the regional Manassas airport, providing several avenues for air travel into and out of the area. Virginia Railway Express provides commuter rail service from the District to Washington, D.C., and two major interstate highways run through the county, providing express routes to and from Washington, D.C., enabling the District to better leverage this proximity.22

Expanding Industry Collaboration and Partnerships:

Both historical and forecasted industry growth in Prince William County and the five-mile radius surrounding the SciTech Campus demonstrate a strong foundation in science and technology-focused fields, as well as supporting and foundational industries. Notable growth is anticipated in computer systems design, satellite telecommunications, biological product manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, and construction, both in the five-mile radius surrounding the SciTech Campus and Prince William County more broadly.23,24 This anticipated growth signals forthcoming expansions in areas such as ICT, cybersecurity, software development, communications, biotechnology life sciences, aerospace-related industries, and industries that support the logistical needs of advanced and emerging priority sectors (Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Forensics; Aerospace and Defense; Cybersecurity and Data Infrastructure; and Semiconductors and Electronics).

Demand and Opportunities for Growth: As of August 2024, nearly all buildings in the District area were leased (98.1%).25 Such high occupancy rates are positive indicators of demand, which is expected to increase as many sectors in the area are poised for growth (e.g., government jobs by 40.3%, the information sector by 27.4%, and manufacturing by 11.3%).26,27 There is an opportunity for the District to support the area in meeting and capitalizing on this demand both through new developments (as of August 2024 there were 1,880 undeveloped acres available in the area)28 and through redevelopment (58.9% of inventory in the District area were Class B buildings, and 7.3% were Class C – both types that are often viewed as opportunities for investment).29 Through (re)development initiatives, the District can both support and benefit from expected sector growth.

Lifestyle Amenities: The area surrounding George Mason’s SciTech Campus is surrounded by various lifestyle amenities that cater to students, workers, faculty, and residents. These include the Innovation Town Center, a mixed-use development that creates a vibrant town center adjacent to the campus.30 Other highlights are the Hylton Performing Arts Center, Farm Brew LIVE, Sweeney Barn, and the Historic Downtown Manassas with boutique shops, diverse dining options, art galleries, and cultural events.

SECTOR FOCUS

A focused approach to strategy development will allow the Innovation District to maximize its resources and accelerate results. A sector focus will:

• Lay the groundwork for compelling and focused narratives about the aims of the District;

• Establish the community as a premier destination for researchers, faculty, students, industry, and workers in the priority sectors;

• Provide the basis for clustering opportunities for industry, academia, and government;

• Guide decision-making and resource planning; and

• Promote the development of interdisciplinary connections that link priority sectors to various other strengths in the organization and community.

The sector identification process involved an indepth analysis of existing economic, education, physical, and networking assets and potential for growth.

Source: Stiletto Analysis

Figure 4: Stiletto sector opportunity analysis31

Four priority sectors have been identified as key focus areas for the District: 1) Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Forensics; 2) Aerospace and Defense; 3) Cybersecurity and Data Infrastructure; and 4) Semiconductors and Electronics. Two additional sectors were

identified as pivotal to supporting these priority sectors: Technology-Focused Areas and Foundational Sciences. The District’s multi-sector focus will inform programming opportunities, the communication of the District’s focus, and future planning.

LIFE SCIENCES, BIOTECHNOLOGY, AND FORENSICS

Source: Stiletto Analysis

CYBERSECURITY AND DATA INFRASTRUCTURE

TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED AREAS

Advanced manufacturing

Information and communication technology

Artificial intelligence

Analytical instruments

Supply chain and logistics

FOUNDATIONAL SCIENCES

Computer and information sciences

Biology

Health sciences

Engineering

Mathematics and statistics

Source: Stiletto Analysis

AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE

SEMICONDUCTORS AND ELECTRONICS

Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Forensics

Cybersecurity and Data Infrastructure

Aerospace and Defense

Semiconductors and Electronics

Figure 5: Innovation District priority sectors, 202432

Figure 6: Innovation District enabling sectors, 202433

INNOVATION IN ACTION

Around the world, the interdependent nature of research, economic development, and learning is being harnessed by creating innovation ecosystems. Innovation districts, one example of this concept, are communities where people and resources are co-located in a shared geographic space with a shared goal: to transform ideas into real-world applications more efficiently to achieve greater community impact.

An innovation district around George Mason’s SciTech Campus will be a catalyst for driving innovation, workforce readiness, and economic impact in Manassas, Prince William County, and beyond.

The area has an abundance of educational, economic, physical, and networking assets that can become greater than the sum of their parts when brought together by the Innovation District. By enabling increased collisions and collaboration, the District will enhance discovery, economic activity, and human flourishing.

Data from national and international innovation districts validates the economic impact these communities have on regional economies. Innovation districts are known to grow at a faster pace than the economy overall. A report published by TEConomy Partners, the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), and Perkins&Will indicates that start-ups in research parks have a 75.0 percent survival rate after five years in operation (outpacing the otherwise 49.0%

national survival rate). From 2012-17, research parks surveyed (n=82) experienced 23.0 percent job growth, compared to 8.0 percent job growth in advanced industries, and for every one research park job, 1.34 additional jobs were created from indirect and induced impacts.34

Innovation districts attract the workers of tomorrow, offering students a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities and the possibility of long-term employment. With an established talent pipeline, industries in these districts have an ideal opportunity to access workers and prepare them with the skills they most need.

The Innovation District in Prince William County and Manassas will position Northern Virginia to 1) compete for funding opportunities like the EDA Tech Hubs and NSF Engines Programs, 2) attract new companies to the region, and 3) ultimately, put the area on the global map as a leader in innovation.