Wednesday, June 14, 2006
CEO's for Cities
Though it sounds like a political campaign, Business week is reporting on a program: CEO's for Cities that has a goal of improving innovative capacity within cities. It also seems to include a Pittsburgh focus. The article is worth a read. I actually just got back from meetings in Brussels focused on this fundamental question of how regions transform from industrial based economies to knowledge based innovative regions. I have some bloggable thoughts from these meetings that I will try to type up once I sleep off some jet lag.
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3 comments:
Wow, what a great idea! Why didn't I think of that? Having CEO's run our federal government has worked out so well, it's just dead obvious that we should do the same for our cities as well. Doh!
As a geographer, I find the regional approach behind the times. Why don't these cities network, leveraging their similarities?
Actually, CEOs for Cities is a cross-sector organization made up of mayors, university presidents, foundation officials, corporate CEOs and civic leaders. So the Innovation Workshops are not, by any means, designed to have corporate CEOs tell elected officials how to run government. (I agree with you: bad idea.) They are a way for urban leaders -- both elected and otherwise -- to learn the latest methods of innovation and to apply them to the distinct opportunities and challenges they face.
Participation in the workshops has the potential of transforming these cities with a few big, powerful ideas. Larry Keeley, who wil lead the workshops, is one of the best innovation strategists in the nation.
Pittsburgh's leadership ought to be commended for taking the risk of attending.
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