The City of Riverside was once only known for its abundance of orange groves at California Citrus State Historic Park. In fact, Riverside was the birthplace of the California citrus industry. No one could have imagined decades ago that the tech industry would one day prosper here.
Over the years, Riverside has transformed into a central hub of technological innovation, creative arts, and sustainability. A big reason for this change can be attributed to the leadership of City Manager Mike Futrell, Mayor Patrician Lock Dawson, and Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development Miranda Evans.
Thanks to their leadership, Riverside has been turned into a model city for stimulating economic growth with the help of its educational institutions, dynamic business ecosystem, and clean technology innovations.
Building a Dynamic Ecosystem for Advancement
The City of Riverside is a dynamic blend of innovation, environmental friendly organizations and higher education and research–advancing itself from its agricultural roots. So, how did Riverside establish such a robust foundation for innovation and international culture? Those only familiar with Riverside’s citrus industry would probably love an answer to this question.
The educational institutions in Riverside had much to do with the city’s innovative growth in numerous industries and fields. The most notable schools include the University of California Riverside, La Sierra University, Riverside City College, and California Baptist University.
Over 80,000 talented students attend these renowned colleges and universities, where they major in high-demand fields like engineering, healthcare, technology, and business. The skills and knowledge acquired from these educational institutions have allowed students to graduate and contribute their talents by joining the local workforce to stimulate business growth and innovation throughout the city.
The Riverside STEM Academy has pioneered science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for students in grades 5th through 12th in Riverside. It is a highly regarded educational institution and California’s number one STEM school. Grade school children receive a valuable education from the STEM academy that will nurture them into becoming the top innovators and entrepreneurs of the next generation.
The University of California Riverside has introduced a SoCal OASIS initiative as an innovation hub to advance clean technology, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The university’s Bourns College of Engineered and the Center for Environmental Research and Technology further solidify Riverside’s prominent position as a green technological innovator and deep commitment to innovation and sustainability as a model for other cities. The college is currently trying to tackle critical challenges in transportation, energy, climate change, and air quality.
California is a leading environmental friendly state and the City of Riverside is homebase to two trailblazing organizations making the city a key contributor and employer in greentech including:
California Air Resources Board (CARB) charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. The organization is instrumental in setting requirements for clean cars and fuels to adopt innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) based at the University of California’s Bourns College of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research & Technology (CE-CERT)’s mission is to be the recognized leader in environmental education, a collaborator with industry and government to improve the technical basis for regulations and policy, a creative source of new technology, and a contributor to a better understanding of the environment.
This dynamic ecosystem has proven to advance the City of Riverside as an innovation hub and the 12th largest city in California.
The Main Destination for Green Innovation and High-Tech Industries
Many revolutionary and sophisticated businesses are flocking to Riverside, determined to advance clean energy and mobility technologies. The most prominent examples of such businesses include Green Power Motor Company, Hyundai Rotem, Ohmio, and Voltu Motors.
These companies will do very well in Riverside’s business-friendly environment. It offers them a strategic foundation for growth and a government-run public utility with sustainable energy solutions to reduce electricity costs. Their use of this utility further promotes green innovation in Riverside, which is bound to attract high-tech innovators to utilize these energy opportunities to grow and prosper.
Riverside has deemed April to be “Innovation Month.” This month brings incredible opportunities and resources to aspiring entrepreneurs and new companies looking to grow and expand in Riverside. The dynamic and innovative ecosystem supports businesses in their early stages and helps get them off the ground and on a path to growth and success.
The University of California, Riverside’s Office of Technology Partnerships serves a critical role in the effort to help grow new cutting-edge companies in the city. Its particular specialties include entrepreneurship development, technology commercialization, and corporate collaborations.
The University of California also leads a public/private partnership called OASIS (Opportunities to Advance Sustainability, Innovation, and Social Inclusion). The partnership is committed to regional economic development by conducting comprehensive research and innovation in social inclusion, sustainability, and clean technology.
Here are the three primary initiatives of OASIS:
- SoCal OASIS™ Park: An innovative hub for research laboratories, incubators, and educational spaces. They aim to support innovations in clean energy, agriculture, healthcare, and sustainable transportation.
- Inland SoCal OASIS™ Build to Scale: Provides assistance and resources to help scale up sustainability-focused startups. These resources include technical expertise, test-bed support, and business development.
- OASIS Fast Pitch Competition: A place where tech startups with great potential can showcase and pitch their innovations. Some of the latest pitches include environmentally friendly foams, robotic seed planting technology, and advanced lithium-ion battery technology.
Riverside supports innovative businesses and technologies by utilizing its numerous incubators and accelerators. Incubators provide support and resources to early-stage startup companies looking to flesh out and develop their ideas and business models. Accelerators assist in scaling up established companies by providing funding, networking opportunities, and mentorship.
Here are some examples:
- ExCITE Technology Incubator: This incredible nonprofit organization assists high-tech startups by providing valuable co-working spaces, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The University of Riverside and various Riverside city leaders also offer their support.
- EPIC Small Business Development Center (SBDC): An accelerator that provides free consultations and training to early-stage tech entrepreneurs. They will even provide them with funding.
- UCR Life Sciences Incubator: Provides resources and assistance to tech startups in biomedical and agricultural technology fields.
Riverside entrepreneurs can use the collaborative platform Inland SoCal Accelerate Hubh (I-Hub) to connect with the necessary resources to scale up their businesses. These resources include funding and product development assistance.
Additional regional initiatives that also help startups secure funding capital include the Opportunity Gateway Program and the University of California, Riverside’s SBIR/STTR Resource Center. They have already provided startups with more than $24 million in funding.
International Connections and Cultural Inclusion
Riverside strives to expand beyond the city and establish international connections with other cities to embrace the benefits of cultural diversity and global collaboration. So far, Riverside has already established a vast network of artistic, diplomatic, and economic relationships with at least nine cities across four continents. These cities include:
- Sendai, Japan
- Jiangmen, China
- Gangnam, South Korea
- Hyderabad, India
- Obuasi, Ghana
- Can Tho, Vietnam
- Erlangen, Germany
Riverside’s relationship with these sister cities has significantly impacted Riverside by turning it into a world-renowned city of innovation and sustainability. This global diplomatic, economic, and artistic network has shaped Riverside’s robust business and cultural environment for the better.
Riverside is the Future
This once citrus-driven city is now an international hub of technology, arts, creativity, sustainability, urban development, and community. It is a city of the future where entrepreneurs can grow their companies, and residents can economically thrive and build good lives for themselves.
