At the 39th IASP World Conference on Science Parks and Areas of Innovation, our main theme was “Green and digital change powered by innovation: The role of innovation ecosystems”.

Speakers and experts from around the world explored the leading role that innovation ecosystems can play in consolidating global efforts to combat the greatest threats facing the world today, such as climate change.

Science parks and areas of innovation are spaces where new thinking builds solutions to solve current challenges. With climate change, there are an abundance of challenges to meet, and digital technologies play a central role in the energy systems of the future, as well as in the development of data-driven climate solutions, monitoring systems, models for behavioural change and much more, helping us move towards a carbon neutral future.

Strategic orientations that clearly prioritise green and digital solutions are essential on the path to post-pandemic recovery. With the SDGs this is high on the agenda, and in the example of Europe where the European Commission focus on ‘twin transitions’ (green and digital transitions), we can see these two agendas placed side by side to achieve sustainable prosperity in our climate goals.

The innovative companies that thrive in science parks and areas of innovation demonstrate the role new emerging tech can play in mitigating and adapting to climate change, such as increased energy efficiency in consumer products and in industry, climate predictions or material optimization. As spaces that bring together universities, the public and private sectors, venture capital, startups and entrepreneurs, innovative corporates, as well as their local community and wider society, we discussed the unique capacity of innovation ecosystems to accelerate the pace of crucial innovation.

Our 2022 world conference explored the myriad ways in which innovation ecosystems can and do support green and digital change across sectors, and the new methods they will deploy to do so in the future.