The 9th annual Doctoral Symposium will explore place-based innovation and its implications to design practice, education and research. The symposium will use Research Triangle Park (RTP) to investigate the role of design in shaping and sustaining place-based innovation ecosystems, examine how the physical, behavioral and socio-cultural dimensions of place shape design innovation, collaboration, and regional transformation, and investigate how regional design leaders perceive the contribution of design to innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development within RTP.