Innovation Districts Within Urban Policy Ecosystems: the Role of Universities as Anchor Institutions

Abstract

The article addresses innovation districts as an instrument of urban policy, with particular emphasis on the role of universities as anchor institutions. Innovation districts are urban areas that foster collaboration between science, business, and administration in creating innovation. Universities have the potential to serve as moderators of this collaboration and architects of an environment that supports entrepreneurship and knowledge exchange. The author refers to the Triple Helix and Quadruple Helix models as theoretical frameworks describing multidimensional linkages in innovation ecosystems. The example of Copenhagen Innovation District illustrates how formal partnerships between scientific institutions, city authorities, and business support processes of joint value creation and ecosystem development. Among the key conditions for the success of innovation districts, the author identifies the engagement of all stakeholders, long-term planning, and institutional support. In the Polish context, the implementation of this model encounters systemic, financial, and cultural barriers, yet it represents a significant opportunity for the transformation of universities into more socially engaged, responsible, and entrepreneurial institutions.