Building Nashville’s Innovation Ecosystem

We are in the early stages of reimagining space on the western side of campus, as we know proximity to the university is key. We have met with leaders from successful innovation districts around the world and part of the blueprint is that universities must play a key role.

As a top research institution, Vanderbilt is well positioned to help drive a more robust innovation economy and ecosystem in Nashville. Innovation ecosystems attract startups, capital and more research and development. The creation of breakthrough technologies and services drives competitiveness and influence on national and global stages which will help create benefit for all.

As always, we are planning for the long-term – considering how we strategically grow and develop our campus over decades. At the same time, we recognize the urgency of creating space that will drive innovation at Vanderbilt and strengthen Nashville’s innovation economy. We will continue to engage with the Vanderbilt community and our surrounding neighbors about our plans and provide updates as they are available. We are committed to keeping stakeholders informed and engaged throughout this process. 

The innovation neighborhood will provide opportunities across the Vanderbilt community. Faculty whose research leads may launch start-up Alumni and postdoctoral scholars may pursue roles in these ventures. Undergraduate and graduate students will gain access to internships and get part-time jobs with companies connected to Vanderbilt research. Additionally, innovation breeds more innovation. The innovation neighborhood will attract venture capitalists, inventors and companies without direct ties to Vanderbilt, creating a dynamic environment where innovation generates new opportunities.

While this neighborhood will be anchored by innovation activity, its benefits will extend well beyond. Plans include office and lab space, diverse retail offerings, and housing, alongside public greenspaces, pedestrian-friendly streets and pathways, a large tree canopy and community The dynamic innovation neighborhood will be a welcoming, mixed-use neighborhood that fosters vibrant community life, while connecting seamlessly into the surrounding area.

• September 2023:
  • Provost C. Cybele Raver announced the formation of the Provost’s Science Space Planning Committee, a faculty and staff-led initiative established to ensure that Vanderbilt’s physical spaces properly serve the needs and goals of scientific research and discovery. The committee included faculty and staff from across the university who analyzed the university’s science spaces and assessed immediate and future needs. Their findings informed next steps toward making sure Vanderbilt’s physical science spaces serve ambitious objectives across all programs.

• June 2024: 
  • Chancellor Diermeier appointed the innovation ecosystem advisory group made up of faculty and staff from across the university. The group is building upon existing work to leverage Vanderbilt-driven research and innovation to support local community needs, attract entrepreneurial talent and venture investment, and expand the city and region’s innovation capacity. It is also examining infrastructure needs, including dedicated physical space, programs for collaboration and how to foster a culture of innovation.
  • Vanderbilt joined Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell in launching the Nashville Innovation Alliance, which brings together public, private, civic and education institutions to enhance the region’s innovation ecosystem. The aim of the alliance is to grow Nashville’s innovation capacity to create a local economy that is more resilient and prosperity that is more inclusive.

• July 2024:
  • The Nashville Innovation Alliance hosted the Innovation Ecosystem Forum, which brought representatives from innovation districts in Barcelona, Berlin and New York City. One of the key takeaways from the event was that Vanderbilt is uniquely positioned to grow its innovation ecosystem including creating a physical place for innovation to thrive.

• February 2025:
  • The Nashville Innovation Alliance and other stakeholders toured Tech Square in Atlanta, a space dedicated to collaboration, research and innovation. Key takeaways learned included:
    • The Value of Co-Location – Shared hubs foster collaboration and strengthen corporate attraction. For example, Atlanta’s Centergy One building is strategically positioned between Georgia Institute of Technology and Technology Square to encourage cross-sector pollination.
    • A Shared Vision – Georgia Tech, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Invest Atlanta are all aligned around a shared priority of driving economic growth through innovation, with a focus on inclusive development that benefits all residents.
    • Collaboration as a Key to Success – Atlanta’s economic development stakeholders collaborate consistently and have strong public investment, helping drive growth and innovation through these longstanding partnerships.

• March 2025:
  • The Nashville Innovation Alliance and LaunchTN partnered to host a special Nashville Night at SXSW, where we shined a light on our city’s growing innovation ecosystem. The event brought together leaders from Nashville’s tech and startup communities and was attended by hundreds. These connections – from entrepreneurs in emerging military tech to corporate partners – highlighted the energy and collaboration that define our community.
  • The first Nashville Tech Studio grant was awarded by the Nashville Innovation Alliance to foster a collaboration between the Nashville Fire Department and Vanderbilt University that will analyze data to help allocate resources, determine optimal staffing levels and even predict future incidents. An initiative of the Alliance, the Nashville Tech Studio works with Metro Nashville officials to identify high-priority challenges. Once identified, Metro departments are paired with experts at Vanderbilt and other local universities, as well as industry partners, to pilot technology-based real-world solutions to help address Nashville’s most complex challenges.

• April 2025:
  • ‘Tech Talent at Scale,’ a technology-focused workforce development event, was held at the Student Life Center. With discussions on strengthening Nashville’s tech talent pipeline and insights from distinguished experts and industry leaders, this event identified novel collaborative solutions to help bring higher-paying jobs to more Nashvillians and to position the region as a premier center for innovation.

• October 2025:
  • The Nashville Innovation Alliance and Amazon announced that Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expanding its Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance to Tennessee. Our region now becomes just the sixth state to join this initiative. Through this strategic collaboration, the partnership aims to address Middle Tennessee's growing technology talent demand, with particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing skills.:

• Nov 2025:
  • While the proposed innovation neighborhood is a long-term vision that will be phased in over a considerable period of time, Vanderbilt took the next step in the process by formally filing a zoning application with the city’s Planning Department on Nov 25.
  • The Specific Plan application filing will:
    • Establish a framework for the street and pedestrian network, green space, general height and density parameters, ground-level amenities and public spaces.
    • Allow flexibility to adapt over time to community needs, market conditions and surrounding site context.
    • Initiate the next phase of engagement with our stakeholders and partners.