More than 40 members of Glasgow City Innovation District’s (GCID) community came together for Meet the Neighbours: Community Fund Launch, an evening designed to spark collaboration, creativity and new ideas across the District.

Hosted at The Boardwalk in GCID, the event brought together a diverse mix of local businesses, community organisations, researchers and residents - united by a shared ambition to shape a more inclusive and innovative Glasgow.

Attendees heard from an inspiring lineup of speakers who each highlighted the power of community‑driven innovation and the importance of reducing barriers to cultivating great ideas:

  • Rachel Moir, Innovation Programme Manager at GCID, opened the evening by welcoming new and familiar faces and sharing insights into the new community-focused Fusion Fund.
  • Manish Joshi, Social Innovation Cluster Lead at the University of Strathclyde and GCID, discussed activity within the cluster and the District, and was keen to discuss how the community can get involved.
  • Ivonne Hamilton, representing Glasgow City Council’s Social Innovation Fund, described how the council is supporting local organisations to test and grow ideas with social impact.
  • Rob Morrison from Agile City concluded the speaker line‑up with a refreshing look at community‑centred design and how cities can better support experimentation at neighbourhood level.

There was a warm, buzzing atmosphere during the event with many attendees commenting on how rare - and valuable - it is to bring such a wide range of people into the same room.

A First Look at the Fusion Fund

Guests also received a preview of the upcoming Fusion Fund, a new initiative designed to support community projects in the District. While applications are not yet open, interest was strong, with many attendees keen to get receive an application form as soon as the fund launches.

Anyone wishing to receive the details when the Fusion Fund opens can email the Glasgow City Innovation District team to be added to the early‑information list.

Building Community, One Conversation at a Time

The success of the event reflects a growing appetite across Glasgow for inclusive spaces where people can connect, share ideas and build solutions together. Meet the Neighbours showcased exactly why community matters- not just socially, but as a driving force for innovation.

This event is one of many ways in which GCID is strengthening collaboration across the city, and we look forward to progressing the new ideas, partnerships and projects that grow from these conversations.

If you’d like to stay up to date with future events and opportunities, keep an eye on our channels - or drop us an email to stay connected.