Innovation zones (IZ) have emerged as a new policy framework favored by the Government of Quebec. The IZ is a place-based policy and it aligns with the basic premise that innovation emerges from dynamic and collaborative environments supported by proximity advantages and localized externalities. According to the Government of Quebec, an IZ is defined as a ‘geographically defined areas (contiguous sites located within a single municipality or across several neighboring municipalities) where actors from research, innovation, industry, and entrepreneurship are clustered and collaborate to foster a culture of innovation, while highlighting the sustainable competitive advantages of these territories or regions’. However, as a relatively new policy initiative, the IZs remain underdeveloped, which can hinder analyses of their structure and their role in supporting regional economic development. This article seeks to address these gaps by exploring the specific attributes of IZs and the regional configurations underpinning their emergence and functioning. First, we examine how IZs differ from regional innovation systems and clusters. To serve as a relevant policy framework, IZs must be more than a mere “branding strategy tool” that designates regions where diverse actors collaborate to foster a local culture of innovation. Rather, the concept of IZ should focus on their constitutive elements and networks, and on how the configuration of these elements enables the zone to develop. Second, we investigate the designated IZs in Quebec and analyze their regional configuration. The empirical analysis is illustrated through case studies of the Technum (Bromont), Distriq (Sherbrooke), Espace Aéro (Montréal region), and Vallée de la Transition Énergétique (Mauricie et Centre-du-Québec). These cases highlight the diversity of possible configurations and geographic contexts that characterize IZs. Third, we draw broader lessons relating to the specific policies associated with IZs.