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Innovation

Houston is where innovation and industry converge. Ours is a city that chooses to take humankind's boldest challenges head-on, from landing on the moon to developing the first artificial heart. And Houston's innovation ecosystem continues to thrive through programs like TMC Innovation Institute at the Texas Medical Center and spaces like the emerging Innovation District. 

18

Houston is home to 18 Forbes Global 2000 headquarters

Fortune 500
#3

Houston ranks #3 among U.S. metro areas in Fortune 500 headquarters

$32.6 billion

Retail sales topped $32,6 billion in Q3/21.

Innovation Corridor

Houston’s Innovation Corridor is at the center of an extraordinarily powerful social and economic convergence. The four-mile-long Corridor is linked by light-rail, bike lanes, and pedestrian thoroughfares, and offers easy access to key industry and institutional players along with an unparalleled array of amenities. It runs from Downtown on the north end, south through Midtown, the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center. 

 

Innovation District

Rice University is currently developing a new innovation district in Midtown. Housed on a 16-acre site anchored by a former Sears building, the hub will bring the area's entrepreneurial, corporate and academic communities together. The nucleus of the Innovation District is The Ion, a nearly 300,000-square-foot structure that serves as a collaborative space for businesses at all stages of the innovation lifecycle. A number of companies and nonprofits have taken up residence in the development.

Houston Tech and Innovation Conversations at SXSW

A Data-Driven Look at Houston's Innovation Ecosystem

The Partnership's Josh Pherigo takes a data-driven look at the current trends in the startup space and the Houston region's momentum in building a thriving innovation ecosystem.

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The Power of Diversity in Innovation

Jan Odegard of The Ion and Ashley DeWalt of DivInc Houston talk about the power of diversity within innovation.

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Corporate Partnerships Drive Innovation in Life Sciences

Fiona Mack of JLABS at TMC discusses how Houston is quickly emerging as a hub for life sciences innovation.

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The Houston Tech Report

This report outlines the tremendous growth in Houston’s tech ecosystem in recent years as evidenced by the expanding workforce as well as startup and venture capital activity. The report also highlights the region’s unique strengths in the sector. 

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Houston Exponential

Houston Exponential is a dynamic organization that serves, organizes, champions and grows the region’s innovation ecosystem. HX is accelerating the development of Houston’s innovation economy, fostering a robust ecosystem that supports high-growth, high-impact startups. HX works to convene the ecosystem, helping to build an innovation district in Houston and attracting talent to the region and promoting Houston’s image, both locally and nationally, as a vibrant, innovative economy where startups thrive.

Houston's Innovation Partners

Related News

Economic Development

Houston Remains Top Player in Attracting New Companies

3/22/23
The Houston region continues to attract new companies, proving it remains a top destination for companies looking to relocate, expand or establish new operations. According to a Partnership analysis, the new business category accounted for more than 50% of new business announcements in 2022. Site Selection Magazine reported the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA won 255 projects in 2022, ranking third among large U.S. metros. The Chicago metro ranked first with 448 projects, while Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked second with 426 projects. The Partnership reported 199 new business announcements in the Houston area in 2022, a lower number than Site Selection Magazine due to differences in reporting structure and data retrieval methods. Manufacturing was the most common sector, representing 29% of all announcements, according to the Partnership analysis. A few noteworthy Partnership-supported projects include: Orsted - a leading offshore wind developer from Denmark is expanding its presence in Texas by establishing a new office in the Woodlands. The move is expected to create up to 100 jobs in the region. Syzygy Plasmonics - a Houston-based energy 2.0 company is expanding its operations to Pearland. The new location will serve as HQ, R&D, and manufacturing for its deep-decarbonization platform, creating up to 120 jobs. Alfred Talke Logistic Services - a German logistics firm is establishing a new facility in the region, serving as its U.S. headquarters. This project represents a $25 million investment and will create 240 jobs. Texas as a whole remains the top destination in the nation for new companies. Site Selection Magazine awarded Texas its 11th consecutive, and 19th total, Governor's Cup for the most total capital investment projects in the nation for 2022 with 1,028 projects. This was more than twice the number of projects that second-place Illinois attracted. In order for a project to be counted toward the Governor’s Cup race, projects must meet one or more of these criteria: a minimum investment of $1 million, the creation of 20 or more new jobs, or 20,000 square feet or more of new construction. Despite a slight dip from the 2021 project count of 1,123, Governor Greg Abbott told Site Selection Magazine he remains optimistic about Texas’ future, congratulating the “exceptional economic development teams at the local, regional, and state level who work so diligently to attract and retain these growing businesses and the jobs they create in communities across Texas.” Texas remains number one in the United States for the most Fortune 500 headquarters, with Houston being number one in Texas. Twenty-four of Texas’ 53 Fortune 500 headquarters are located in Houston.   Governor Abbott also touted the state’s lack of an individual income tax, its business-friendly regulatory environment, workforce, and recent investments in infrastructure as reasons why more and more businesses are choosing to relocate or expand in Texas. Referring to Texas as the “economic engine of the nation,” Governor Abbott stressed that in order for the state to remain a leader on the national and global levels, it would need to continue to “lead with major capital investments in critical industries such as advanced manufacturing and energy production” and to “work collaboratively with local economic development organizations and business communities and maintain strategic economic development tools.” Maintaining these competitive advantages is a key issue state legislators are addressing during the current legislative session. House Bill 5, which the Partnership supports, aims to establish a new economic development incentive program to attract new businesses. Learn more about why companies choose Houston.  
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Aerospace & Aviation

Houston House Returns to SXSW to Spotlight Tech and Innovation

3/17/23
Houston House returned to Austin for the South by Southwest Conference for its third year, bringing a new group of panelists and industry experts together to deliver a full day of thought-provoking content for over 750 attendees. Houston-based industry leaders and innovators discussed the startup journey, how they’re challenging the status quo in their respective industries to improve products or services, and more. If you were unable to join the Partnership at SXSW, check out our recap of the conversations below.    Demystifying the Startup Journey  Houston House kicked off its day of programming by dispelling the mystique surrounding the startup journey and answering questions about hiring, funding, and finding the right product-market fit. Panelists discussed in-depth how to find and attract the right talent, including cost-effective strategies and solutions for cash-strapped founders, and what they wished they had done differently during their various rounds of funding.  Panelists:  Ted Gutierrez, Co-Founder and CEO, SecurityGate.io  Gaurav Khandelwal, Founder and CEO, Velostics  Simone May, Co-Founder and CTO, Clutch  Moderator: Natalie Harms, Editor, Innovation Map    The Future is Female: Triumphs of Women in Tech  It’s no secret that female founders face a unique set of challenges compared to their male counterparts, especially when funding their next business venture. The panel discussed funding challenges, how they challenge stereotypes in male-dominated industries, and overcoming the feelings of guilt and inadequacy that plague women in business.  “The insecurity women feel that ‘we're not good enough' needs to go. Men don't experience that.” - Lydia Davies, Founder & CEO of TEAMATES  Panelists:  Lydia Davies, Founder and CEO, TEAMATES  Taci Pereira, CEO, Systemic Bio  Janice Tran, Co-Founder and CEO, Kanin Energy  Moderator: Carrie Colbert, Founding and General Partner, Curate Capital    Building a Tech Unicorn  Every tech startup hopes to become the next unicorn, but not everyone makes the cut. Featuring an in-depth conversation with Solugen’s co-founder and CEO, Gaurab Chakrabarti, the panel covered his background growing up in Houston, the surprising marketing campaign that put Solugen on the map, and the journey leading to it becoming a tech unicorn.  Gaurab Chakrabarti, Co-Founder and CEO, Solugen  Moderator: Payal Patel, Principal, Softeq Ventures and Director, Softeq Venture Studio    Click to expand People packed the room at Houston House to hear from Solugen CEO Gaurab Chakrabarti.   Unlocking the Power of AI: Insights & Innovations  Technology and innovation converged in this panel discussing recent developments in artificial intelligence and what the future of business will look like as it becomes more widespread and advanced, including the policies and legislation that may become necessary as AI becomes more intelligent. From song lyrics written in the style of Taylor Swift to how the health care industry is utilizing this technology to better serve its patients, it is clear that we are just beginning to scratch the surface of AI’s capabilities.  “The Ion [in Houston] is going to bring innovation, elevate clean tech energy, and push health care to the next level. That’s why we want to be involved and that’s why you should too.” - Murat Uralkan, Director of Innovation at Houston Methodist Panelists:  Sidd Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, Nesh  Rob Meadows, Founder and CEO, AI Foundation  Murat Uralkan, Director of Innovation, Houston Methodist  Moderator: Dave Mathews, Principal Venture Capitalist and CTO Advisor, Softeq    Connecting Industries, Empowering Innovation  Ever wondered what it looks like when the brightest minds in different industries come together? The nexus of innovation and collaboration across industries in Houston took center stage in this discussion of how industry leaders can continue to break down traditional barriers and create advancements in everything from biotech to the energy transition.  Panelists:  Barbara Belvisi, Founder and CEO, Interstellar Lab  Moji Karimi, Co-Founder and CEO, Cemvita Factory  Nic Radford, Founder, President, and CEO, Nauticus Robotics  Moderator: Brad Rossacci, Creative Director, Accenture  The Houston House program at SXSW 2023 will be available to stream on-demand soon.  Learn more about Houston’s innovation ecosystem. 
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Related Events

Membership

2023 Soirée - Internationally Inspired

Soirée, the Greater Houston Partnership’s annual gala, will celebrate the Houston region's unique tapestry of ideas, industry and influence that positions us among the great global cities of the…

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Additional Resources

See below for additional resources in Innovation. 

Need more information about Innovation in Houston? Your dedicated team member can help:

  • Assist in site selection analysis
  • Assist in evaluating and applying for incentives
  • Aid in the permitting process
  • Provide data on key business facilities
  • Facilitate and foster key introductions
Looking for the rest of our team?
Partnership Staff
Have someone from our Innovation Strategy Office contact you:
Executive Partners