Trying to find a city with specific
activities, roles or policies?
Learn about the innovation activities taking place in cities.
Explore how cities around the world are applying innovation methods to tackle their tough challenges.
Demographic changes, climate change, and the advent of new technologies will dramatically change our cities and the way we live, demanding that civic leaders adapt and operate in radically new ways.
This site identifies and shares how cities around the world are investing in innovation, to ensure they’re constantly assessing and improving how they’re tackling problems and improving the lives of residents. This map is based on an initial survey of cities in OECD and non-OECD countries. The city information reflects data gathered from the city administration at the time of the survey. You can download the report here:
Top innovation skill sets cities are hiring into city hall
Innovation requires a diverse set of skills. Here are the types of skills cities are bringing into city hall.
- 1
Taking risks or testing new ideas
- 2
Data-driven analytics/public data management
- 3
Engaging residents in new ways
- 4
Developing new solutions based on digital technologies
- 5
Organizational change within the municipality
- 6
Human-centered design
- 7
Rethinking your city’s approach to financing partnerships
Average frequency of use for most common innovation activities
Cities are conducting seven key activities to tackle their biggest challenges.
Top policy areas cities are using innovation to tackle
Cities are applying innovation to a wide range of areas—from improving transport and mobility to enhancing the labor market.
Policy areas by number of cities
Explore all participating cities
Australia
1,350,000
United States
197,846
United States
160,035
The Netherlands
862,965
United States
298,192
Greece
665,000
United States
486,290
United States
201,110
United States
950,715
United States
611,648
Spain
1,640,000
Israel
207,551
United States
91,385
Spain
345,122
United States
84,981
Italy
392,027
United States
107,125
Portugal
192,494
Slovakia
435,000
United Kingdom
463,400
Belgium
180,000
Argentina
2,890,000
Korea
3,500,000
South Africa
4,490,000
United States
859,035
United States
180,557
United States
39,699
United States
2,700,000
United States
301,301
Brazil
1,930,000
Costa Rica
78,000
United States
1,320,000
United States
716,492
United States
673,104
Ireland
554,554
United States
267,743
Canada
933,000
United States
649,133
The Netherlands
159,000
United States
165,080
United States
182,827
Brazil
2,600,000
United States
70,685
United States
206,283
Argentina
205,537
Sweden
592,000
Spain
232,462
United States
196,455
Finland
653,867
United Kingdom
234,110
United States
103,350
United States
2,300,000
United States
47,079
Korea
3,021,000
United States
872,680
United States
234,710
United States
265,549
Israel
857,752
United States
165,288
United States
116,986
Germany
600,000
United States
321,959
Peru
9,670,000
Portugal
547,733
United States
198,606
United Kingdom
1,530,000
Slovenia
279,631
United Kingdom
9,000,000
United States
480,000
United States
3,990,000
United States
616,261
Brazil
1,010,000
Spain
3,200,000
United States
85,000
Slovenia
110,513
Colombia
2,500,000
United States
652,717
Mexico
8,920,000
United States
463,347
United States
422,331
United States
190,265
United States
205,501
Canada
2,030,000
Russia
12,640,000
United States
8,620,000
United States
425,195
United States
643,648
United States
280,257
Japan
340,973
Finland
203,567
Italy
680,000
France
2,200,000
United States
147,000
Brazil
342,405
United States
112,883
United States
1,580,000
United States
301,048
United States
66,882
United States
180,393
Chile
85,262
Iceland
122,141
Brazil
6,320,000
United States
327,728
United States
208,046
Italy
2,880,000
Argentina
995,000
The Netherlands
623,654
United States
306,621
Mexico
709,671
United States
1,430,000
United States
870,887
United States
1,050,000
Mexico
123,156
Chile
5,560,000
United States
255,310
United States
744,955
Korea
9,780,000
Portugal
377,835
United States
176,888
Bulgaria
1,560,000
United States
102,245
Sweden
974,073
United States
143,378
Brazil
12,110,000
United States
213,418
United States
193,000
Israel
429,515
Canada
2,800,000
United States
403,090
Italy
886,837
Sweden
129,000
The Netherlands
350,000
Italy
257,993
Austria
1,900,000
Lithuania
600,000
United States
450,435
United States
69,773
New Zealand
207,900
United States
36,000
United States
114,000
United States
385,000
Canada
753,700
United States
243,447
United States
185,677