Peninsula Leaders Visit "Most Innovative Square Mile" to Spark Regional Growth
By Bob McKenna, Virginia Peninsula Chamber
The Virginia Peninsula Chamber recently led a group of 26 regional leaders to Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts—widely recognized as “the most innovative square mile on the planet.” The goal: to explore how Hampton Roads can build its own thriving innovation ecosystem by learning from the world-class innovation hub that surrounds MIT.
Kendall Square is home to cutting-edge startups, global biotech firms, and elite academic institutions. The two-day visit included tours of the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), The Engine (MIT’s deep tech incubator), and LabCentral, as well as high-level panel discussions on scaling innovation, venture capital, defense technology, and university-industry collaboration.
Attendees represented a wide cross-section of Hampton Roads leadership, including representatives from higher education, economic development, private industry, entrepreneurship networks, and public service organizations such as NASA Langley and the Hampton Roads Sanitation District.
“Our region has world-class assets in research, industry, and workforce,” said Bob McKenna, Virginia Peninsula Chamber President & CEO. “Now we need to connect those assets intentionally, communicate our vision clearly, and collaborate with some sense of urgency.”
The group will reconvene in May to develop messaging, strategies, and action steps to help position Hampton Roads as a national leader in BlueTech, autonomous systems, and defense innovation. The visit was a key step toward accelerating innovation-led economic growth and turning shared regional strengths into lasting opportunity.