Cambridge, MA, USA, April 15, 2026
CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) and BAT (Bilbao Architecture Team) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic framework for collaboration on future projects with international scope. Signed in Cambridge on March 13, 2026, the agreement marks the beginning of a new chapter between two organizations that share a clear ambition: to identify, shape and help deliver transformative projects that generate long term value for cities, institutions, companies, and innovation ecosystems worldwide.
The partnership brings together two complementary organizations with a strong entrepreneurial mindset and a shared belief in the power of innovation as a driver of economic, social, and spatial transformation. CIC contributes its global experience in the design, programming and operation of innovation campuses and entrepreneurial communities. BAT brings a transdisciplinary and integrative approach that connects strategic vision, business thinking, design, construction, and implementation, helping turn ambitious ideas into real projects with lasting impact.
This agreement reflects much more than the formalization of a relationship. It represents the intention of both organizations to build a common platform for opportunity creation and project development across multiple sectors and geographies. With cities and institutions increasingly seeking new strategies to attract talent, foster collaboration, activate ecosystems and connect innovation with space, CIC and BAT see a significant opportunity to work together in the creation of projects that combine operational intelligence, spatial excellence, and implementation capacity.
The collaboration is rooted in a shared understanding that the most significant projects today require more than technical expertise in a single field. They demand the ability to connect disciplines, align stakeholders, structure opportunities, define meaningful user experiences, and guide projects from concept to execution. It is precisely at that intersection where this partnership finds its strongest potential. CIC and BAT are aligned in creating environments that are well designed, strategically positioned, operationally viable, and generative of long term impact.
For BAT, the agreement reinforces its role as an international integrator able to operate across the full project cycle, from early stage vision and concept development to delivery and implementation. BAT’s contribution lies not only in design capability, but also in its ability to connect strategy, identity, market logic, construction knowledge, and project execution into a coherent whole. This broader positioning is central to the partnership and reflects BAT’s commitment to participating in projects as a global partner in value creation.
For CIC, the agreement will allow them to engage in new opportunities alongside a partner that understands the complexity of shaping ambitious projects into reality. CIC’s proven expertise in innovation communities, ecosystem building, spatial programming, and operational strategy makes it a powerful counterpart for clients and partners looking to create new platforms for entrepreneurship, collaboration, and impact. By partnering with BAT, CIC strengthens its participation in the earliest stages of project definition, where vision, structure and ambition are first established.
Together, CIC and BAT intend to explore opportunities in which innovation, entrepreneurship, education, culture, technology, business, and urban development intersect. Their common goal is to support the development of projects that can act as catalysts for broader transformation, whether through innovation campuses, mixed use hubs, strategic anchor programs, or new spatial and operational models designed to activate ecosystems and communities. Rather than approaching projects from a narrow or isolated lens, the partnership is built on a holistic view that recognizes the importance of connecting places, programs, identities, operations, and long term growth.
This agreement also reflects the confidence built through prior collaboration and dialogue. Both organizations see strong potential in continuing to develop opportunities together in a way that is ambitious, international, and deeply grounded in execution. The Memorandum of Understanding provides the basis for that next phase, creating a framework through which CIC and BAT can assess new opportunities, align their capabilities, and structure future engagements in a collaborative and strategic way.
“This agreement marks an important step in our international journey and reflects the type of partnerships we believe are necessary to shape meaningful projects today. We are living in a moment when complexity demands integration, and when the ability to connect strategy, design, construction, operation and implementation becomes essential. CIC is an extraordinary partner in that context. We share an entrepreneurial mindset, a global outlook and a belief that great projects are built through ambition, collaboration and the capacity to turn vision into reality.”
— Xabier Arranz, Founder Partner at BAT
“We see this partnership as a strong platform to help unlock new opportunities internationally. At BAT, we have always understood our role in a broad and integrative way, connecting ideas, people, disciplines and execution. This agreement reinforces that vision and opens the door to developing projects with a partner who understands innovation not as a concept, but as something that must be spatialized, structured and made real.”
— Peru Cañada, Founder Partner at BAT
“This partnership reflects a shared ambition to explore and develop new opportunities with purpose and vision. By combining CIC’s expertise in innovation ecosystems and operational models with BAT’s integrative capacity across strategy, design and implementation, we are creating a strong foundation for projects that can generate meaningful impact for clients, cities and communities around the world.”
— Denyse Medlenka, CEO, CIC
The agreement was signed in Cambridge in the presence of Denyse Medlenka, CEO; Liz Smith, Director of US Marketing and Corporate Communications; Dougan Sherwood, Partner, CIC Catalyst; Nathan Plummer, General Manager of Venture Café Global Institute; Quinn Harvey, Global Head of Design, Construction, and Implementation; Alexander Cheung, Director of Venture Café Cambridge, on behalf of CIC; Asier Alea, Director of Global Development at Basque Culinary Center together with Xabier Arranz and Peru Cañada, Founder Partners of BAT.
Both organizations see this partnership as part of a broader commitment to contributing to a new generation of projects that respond to the evolving needs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and global development. As institutions and cities seek new ways to remain competitive, attract talent and create vibrant ecosystems, CIC and BAT believe there is a growing need for partnerships that can bridge strategic thinking with real world delivery. This agreement is designed to support exactly that.
Looking ahead, CIC and BAT will continue identifying and evaluating opportunities where their combined capabilities can offer a distinctive value proposition. Their intention is to work with partners who are looking not only for technical solutions, but for collaborative platforms capable of shaping projects with vision, credibility, and implementation strength. The partnership is therefore both a statement of intent and a practical framework for future action.
About CIC
CIC builds and operates a global network of innovation campuses where startups, scale-ups, corporations and public entities connect, work, and grow. Founded in 1999, CIC manages innovation-focused workspace, laboratories, and event space across North America, Europe and Asia. Additionally, CIC develops bespoke programming, builds and enables industry clusters, and provides world-class district consulting—all focused on advancing innovation.
Learn more about CIC’s innovation campuses featuring workspace & labs, programming, and events at CIC.com. Follow along on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
About BAT
BAT is a transdisciplinary company working at the intersection of strategy, design, construction and implementation. With an international outlook and an integrative approach, BAT helps shape and deliver complex projects by aligning vision, place, identity, business logic and execution into a single coherent process.
You can follow BAT’s work on www.bat.archi, LinkedIn, Instagram.
