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:
Developed By
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 labour market.
Policy areas by number of cities
Explore all participating cities
Akron
United States
197,846
Alexandria
United States
160,035
Anchorage
United States
298,192
Athens
Greece
665,000
Atlanta
United States
486,290
Aurora
United States
201,110
Austin
United States
950,715
Baltimore
United States
611,648
Be'er Sheva
Israel
207,551
Bilbao
Spain
345,122
Boulder
United States
107,125
Braga
Portugal
192,494
Buenos Aires
Argentina
2,890,000
Cape Town
South Africa
3,740,026
Charlotte
United States
859,035
Chattanooga
United States
179,139
Chelsea
United States
39,699
Chicago
United States
2,700,000
Cincinnati
United States
301,301
Curridibat
Costa Rica
32,443
Denver
United States
693,060
Detroit
United States
673,104
Durham
United States
267,743
Fort Collins
United States
165,080
Fort Lauderdale
United States
182,827
Georgetown
United States
70,685
Glendale
United States
203,054
Grand Rapids
United States
196,455
Highland
United Kingdom
234,110
Houston
United States
2,300,000
Huntington
United States
47,079
Indianapolis
United States
872,680
Irving
United States
234,710
Jersey City
United States
270,753
Jerusalem
Israel
857,752
Kansas City
United States
165,288
Lansing
United States
116,986
Lexington
United States
321,959
Ljubljana
Slovenia
279,631
Long Beach
United States
480,000
Los Angeles
United States
3,990,000
Louisville
United States
616,261
Madrid
Spain
3,200,000
Medellin
Colombia
2,500,000
Memphis
United States
652,717
Miami
United States
463,347
Minneapolis
United States
422,331
Mobile
United States
190,265
Montreal
Canada
1,820,000
New York City
United States
8,620,000
Oakland
United States
425,195
Oklahoma City
United States
643,648
Orlando
United States
280,257
Otsu
Japan
340,973
Palermo
Italy
673,735
Paris
France
2,200,000
Paterson
United States
147,000
Peoria
United States
112,883
Philadelphia
United States
1,580,000
Providence
United States
180,393
Quillota
Chile
85,262
Reykjavik
Iceland
122,141
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
6,320,000
Riverside
United States
327,728
Rochester
United States
208,046
Rotterdam
The Netherlands
623,654
Saint Paul
United States
306,621
Saltillo
Mexico
709,671
San Francisco
United States
870,887
San Jose
United States
1,050,000
Santiago de Chile
Chile
5,560,000
Seattle
United States
730,400
Seoul
Korea
9,780,000
Sintra
Portugal
377,835
South Bend
United States
102,245
Stockholm
Sweden
949,761
Syracuse
United States
143,378
São Paulo
Brazil
12,110,000
Tacoma
United States
213,418
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Israel
429,515
Toronto
Canada
2,800,000
Tulsa
United States
403,090
Turin
Italy
886,837
Utrecht
The Netherlands
350,000
Virginia Beach
United States
450,435
Walnut Creek
United States
69,773
Wellington
New Zealand
207,900