Essay: 10 years in, Cascadia Innovation Corridor’s cross-border vision endures

In 2016, leaders from both sides of the border gathered in British Columbia to establish a new initiative between government, academia, and business rooted in the concept of a mega-region connecting communities from Portland to Vancouver.

The concept was simple: with so much in common, we should work more intentionally to strengthen our relationships and address our shared challenges. Whether related to climate change, health sciences, or transportation, the region is made stronger through collaboration and seamless integration. This is the underlying ethos of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor (CIC) initiative. Ten years later, challenges and opportunities remain, yet the broader political landscape has fundamentally shifted.

Written by Laurie Trautman, the Director, Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University and a Cascadia Innovation Corridor steering committee member.