Planning for innovation: understanding and analyzing the application of fiscal, regional, and land use planning in the development of innovation clusters

Innovation clusters are becoming a common practice for municipalities and governments looking to increase research and development while also improving economic output and product commercialization. Although there are many existing fiscal, regional, and land use tools to leverage; there is limited multi-tier and cross-sector strategies being implemented. Observing these tools and mapping Canada’s multi-tier innovation incentivization ecosystem enables the research to understand the strengths and disconnects that currently exist within the system. Further observation of foreign programming strategies and tools also work to present opportunities for program improvements and growth. The work presented in this research looks to provide a roadmap for how municipalities can implement the innovation clustering goals presented by regional and federal governments while also empowering urban planners with the tools to catalyze economic growth and develop a sustainable ecosystem for research and development