Innovation and Impact in Los Angeles

by Maria S. Salinas

This week I was invited to deliver a virtual keynote address for THE Innovation & Impact Summit, in Shenzhen, China. The conference, themed “Universities and Cities: Advancing Sustainable Innovation,” was an excellent opportunity for me to share with a global audience the role that Los Angeles holds as an innovative and creative region supported by a mix of industries and academic institutions.

In an age marked by incredible innovation, few cities have captured the collective imagination of the tech world as intensely as Los Angeles. Los Angeles is not the “next Silicon Valley,” it is a very different region with unique attributes which leverage our strengths in a variety of industries with a diverse workforce. Los Angeles boasts an ecosystem that nurtures collaboration and experimentation, cultivating a space for groundbreaking ventures. The city's focus on sustainability diversity and collaboration has created a new model for other cities looking to foster innovation and growth.

The Los Angeles region is leading this convergence with academic excellence, investments in infrastructure, and a focus on responsible innovation. The synergy between academia and industry has paved a fast track for transforming research finding into tangible, innovative real-world applications.

I closed my remarks by reflecting on the incredible power of our small businesses. Much of this innovation has been led by the an entrepreneurial ecosystem that fuels a dynamic, global economy. The Los Angeles region’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit is driven by the resilience and imagination of our small businesses.