THE POWER OF PEOPLE, PLACES & FIRMS
Reading Time: 3 minutesPowerful forces are reshaping the world of work. Ageing populations, the transition to green energy, rapid digitalisation, and uneven connectivity are already redrawing the economic landscape. AI tools promise a way out – automating routine tasks, optimising schedules, even predicting maintenance needs before breakdowns. But for local leaders, a dilemma looms: will AI ease labour shortages or put people out of work – and their region?
Reading Time: 4 minutesBig metros power ahead while many towns and smaller regions struggle to keep up. A recent UK-Japan study, looks squarely at this problem through two ‘second city’ regions – Birmingham/the West Midlands and Osaka/Kansai – and distils a practical playbook that local leaders can use now. The argument is simple: finds durable institutions, functional regional geographies, flexible finance, and open learning loops are the levers that turn strategy into outcomes.
Reading Time: 3 minutesLa innovación y la tecnología, guiadas por la evidencia y el trabajo colaborativo, se han consolidado en Colombia como catalizadores clave para la transformación social
Reading Time: 3 minutesHow can data and local collaboration transform education? United Way Colombia is showing that when communities, innovation, and evidence come together, impact becomes not just possible, but measurable and scalable.
Reading Time: 3 minutesJapan’s urban digital twin initiative, PLATEAU, creates dynamic 3D city models using data to enhance urban planning and governance. Launched in 2020, it supports over 250 municipalities, aiming for expansion to 500 by 2027.
Reading Time: 3 minutesSMEs and entrepreneurs are at an important crossroads. Recent challenges like pandemic shutdowns, high inflation, and rising interest rates persist, keeping financing conditions tight. As uncertainty grows, businesses and governments must choose: halt investments at the risk of innovation and competitiveness or find new ways to access capital.
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe global demand for critical raw materials is surging, with rare earth metals and lithium expected to increase significantly by 2030 and 2050. Learn how geospatial data can aid local governments in balancing economic growth with environmental risks amid this transition.
Reading Time: 4 minutesIn 2024, AI usage surged in the EU27, with 13.5% of enterprises adopting it, spurred by accessible generative AI. However, disparities emerge as some firms and regions advance while others lag, raising concerns over increasing digital divides.