May 07, 2018
For years, Montréal has led the international community in a number of tech domains. The birthplace of Bombardier, Montréal has long been a major aerospace industry hub. It is a center of research for the pharmaceutical industry, and is considered one of the best places in the world for gaming and visual effects, boasting industry…
May 07, 2018
Our Chairman John Rossant sits down with Pete Scantland, CEO of Columbus-based IKE Smart City, to discuss the evolving role of private enterprises within cities, and how mid-sized cities in the United States are quickly catching up to their larger counterparts. John Rossant: Hi Pete. Before we dive into some challenges and opportunities for mid-sized…
May 07, 2018
Almost a year ago today, Siemens spent two days in Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina, with a team of engaged leaders representing the public and private sectors. We had a clear goal: to develop a path for the city to achieve STAR certification, using data to drive sustainability. The U.S.-based non-profit organization STAR…
May 07, 2018
Melbourne’s ascension of global city rankings, strategic urbanization, ability to attract talent and become a hub of innovation can be loosely summed up in one word: knowledge. Melbourne is a proud Knowledge City, recognizing that in order to continue to stimulate and grow our economy we must evolve while cultivating and attracting the best and…
May 07, 2018
Are mid-sized cities the engine of our world’s fast-paced urbanization? Explore our series of 3 infographics on the rise of secondary cities around the world. Download PDF here
Apr 23, 2018
Cities worldwide are engaging the power of the crowd and leading a new approach to citizen engagement. Here is how crowdsourcing can reinvigorate and revitalize urban development. Featured Photo by Adrien Olichon on Unsplash
Mar 19, 2018
We think a happy world starts with happy cities. On the occasion of International Day of Happiness, we have invited 10 contributors from across the globe to discuss how to increase human wellbeing and happiness in urban areas. Featured photo by Vita Marija Murenaite on Unsplash
Mar 19, 2018
We had been trying to live a slow life for a long time before realizing that there was such a thing as the Slow Movement. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis the same time my partner Andrew Plumb and I were finishing architecture school and starting our careers. The fast-paced, 80-hour weeks at “starchitecture” firms…
Mar 19, 2018
There are many views about how best to make cities happier. But before we get into that, it’s important to be reminded of the essence of the city. As Shakespeare said, “a city is but its people” and we know cities are not empty buildings and infrastructure, or as Edward Glaeser explains in Triumph of…
Mar 19, 2018
Modern living offers many conveniences but increasingly comes at the price of our health and our wellbeing. How we live, eat, work, play and organize our communities impact our climate, health and wellbeing. Rising challenges such as obesity and non-communicable diseases need to be urgently addressed. Failing to do so will mean that for the…
Mar 19, 2018
When imagining the streets, parks, canals, or squares of any city our minds automatically picture human faces. Some are playing in the grass, others walking to work, taking a bus to school or catching up with friends and family. These snapshots reflect the reality that a city is more than just its physical infrastructure. Indeed,…
Mar 19, 2018
What do ordinary South Africans need to do to make sure that wellbeing is a top priority for policymakers? I live and work in Grahamstown, a small South African university that prides itself on being an excellent educational center attracting young people and scholars not only from South Africa but from the whole of Africa…
