Innovative Cities & Regions

Portland EcoDistricts Initiative

The EcoDistricts Initiative developed by the Portland Sustainability Institute, in partnership with the City of Portland, is a comprehensive strategy to accelerate sustainable neighborhood development. Continue reading…

The Secret to Job Growth: Think Small

Regional economic growth is highly correlated with the presence of many small, entrepreneurial employers not a few big ones, according to a new study by Harvard professors Ed Glaeser and William Kerr. Continue reading…

EUROCITIES Innovation and Cities Discussion Paper

EUROCITIES, a network of major European cities, published a paper that explores and promotes debate on social, public and market innovation as well as the role that cities play in both supporting and doing innovation. Continue reading…

Video: Why Cities Are Idea Factories

In the third installment of The Florida Report, which is titled “Why Cities Are Idea Factories”, Richard Florida discusses the forces that give rise to innovation in urban areas. The Florida Report is an eight-part video series from The Atlantic featuring Richard Florida. Continue reading…

LEED 2009 for Neighborhood Development

The revised version of LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system was approved by US Green Building Council, following the consensus-based process that all LEED rating systems go through, and it received approval from the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Continue reading…

World’s Most Liveable Cities

The Winter Olympics’ host city of Vancouver continues to top the Economist Intelligence Unit’s global liveability survey. European and North American cities continue to dominate the top tier of the ranking, alongside cities in Australia and New Zealand. Continue reading…

Silicon Valley 2010: A new phase of uncertainty

The Silicon Valley 2010 Index just released from Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network and Silicon Valley Community Foundation brings clear signs that the innovation engine of the region is slowing down and the Valley is entering a new phase of restructuring and uncertainty. Published annually since 1995, the Silicon Valley Index examines trends in five areas: People and talent flows; Economy and innovation; Continue reading…

Building New York City’s Innovation Economy

BuildingNYCsInnovationEconomyA new study by the Center for an Urban Future finds that New York City’s leading universities and scientific research centers have not become catalysts for entrepreneurship and local economic development the way similar institutions have in other regions. Continue reading…

Toronto’s Vital Signs 2009 Report

Toronto-Vital-Signs-2009Toronto’s Vital Signs annual report provides a snapshot of the trends in the city, highlighting progress it should be proud of and challenges that need to be addressed for quality of life. The goals of report include inspiring civic engagement, providing focus for public debate, and guiding donors and stakeholders who want to direct their resources to areas of greatest need. Continue reading…

Best Places to Launch a Business in US

bplaunch_2009.splashFORTUNE Small Business magazine and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation announced the 2009 list of the 50 best places in the United States to launch a business. Topping the list are Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the no. 1 large city; Huntsville, Alabama, as the no. 1 medium city; and Billings, Montana no. 1 small city. Continue reading…