COGITO

Mining standards: Turning opportunity into local-development reality

Reading Time: 3 minutesIt is the “paradox of proximity”: communities nearest a mine feel its impacts first, yet often lack the skills, finance or infrastructure to secure jobs and contracts. How can these opportunities be turned into outcomes?

La economía social y solidaria en Cataluña: claves del éxito

Reading Time: 4 minutesLa economía social y solidaria catalana no nació solo de la ley: desde 2016, catorce “Ateneus Cooperatius” y redes comunitarias han creado más de 1100 cooperativas. ¿Bastará ahora la política para sostener lo que crearon?

When the copper party ends… can mining regions make the gains last?

Reading Time: 3 minutesCopper booms do not last for ever. Prices rise, investment pours in and mining regions expand. Then the cycle turns. The obvious question for places that depend on mining is: what remains when it does?

How cities borrow ideas and make them work locally

Reading Time: 4 minutesCities often look to one another for solutions to challenges ranging from housing shortages and climate risks to infrastructure pressures and social inequalities. How can cities bridge the gap between inspiration and implementation?

The social and solidarity economy in Catalonia: Secrets to success

Reading Time: 4 minutesCatalonia’s social and solidarity economy wasn’t built by legislation alone: fourteen Cooperative Hubs and community networks came first, creating over 1,100 cooperatives since 2016. As legal recognition arrives, can policy alone sustain what communities already built?

Beyond buffaloes: Building a social enterprise in Laos

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn rural Laos, Laos Buffalo Dairy rents pregnant buffaloes from farmers, supporting rural families while producing milk commercially, sustaining livelihoods without disrupting traditional local farming practices. But can shared value be a lasting business model?

Putting people at the heart of Ukraine’s recovery

Reading Time: 5 minutesIn Ivano-Frankivsk, Promprylad Foundation retrains displaced people, veterans and women for in-demand local jobs, supporting 30,000+ people and 600+ new jobs since 2022. Can community-led models like this reshape how we think about post-war economic recovery?

Can MENA’s digital finance boom close the gender gap?

Reading Time: 4 minutesAsk whether digital finance is helping women entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) overcome old barriers and the honest answer is: both, at the same time. But is access enough to drive real growth?

Turin 2.0: Putting our city at the centre of national competitiveness

22 May 2025 Stefano Lo Russo, Ph.D - (Mayor)

Reading Time: 3 minutesCities are crucial for national competitiveness. Turin is exemplifying this by integrating its industrial heritage with emerging sectors. Investing in people and education fosters innovation and a long-term strategy focusing on urban regeneration, sustainability, and inclusivity will prepare cities like Turin for future challenges.

Power in partnership: How Poland is implementing multi-level governance

16 May 2025 Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz - Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn 2023 subnational governments across the OECD countries spent USD 13 trillion. But to get best value from this spending it needs to be aligned with the efforts of government and public agencies. A multilevel governance (MLG) approach seeks to achieve that. What lessons can countries learn from Poland’s experience?

How can digital twins transform our cities? A view from Japan

15 May 2025 Akira Yoshii - (Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan)

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.

Stronger places for competitive countries

15 May 2025 Matúš Vallo - (Mayor)

Reading Time: 3 minutesMayors have faced numerous global challenges, yet these have opened opportunities for deeper connections with citizens. They urge national governments to embrace place-based policies, emphasising their significance in addressing regional needs, ensuring a just transition, and fostering resilience and prosperity for all.

Avances y desafíos de la informalidad laboral en Colombia

14 May 2025 Andrea Otero - (Banco de la República) and Jaime Bonet - (Banco de la República)

Reading Time: 5 minutesEn Colombia, la mayoría de los trabajadores no recibe un comprobante de pago formal ni cotiza para una pensión. En 2024, el 55,4% de la fuerza laboral se encontraba en empleos informales, ganándose la vida en trabajos sin contrato laboral formal, sin protecciones legales ni acceso a la seguridad social.

Can Colombia turn the corner on informal work?

14 May 2025 Andrea Otero - (Banco de la República) and Jaime Bonet - (Banco de la República)

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn Colombia, most workers don’t get a formal payslip or a pension. In 2024, 55.4% of the workforce were in informal employment – earning their living in jobs without a formal job contract, legal protections or contribute to social security.

AI in Busan: Can it reshape urban life?

12 May 2025 Heong-joon Park - (Mayor)

Reading Time: 3 minutesBy 2030, AI is projected to contribute USD 19.9 trillion to the global economy. Busan, Korea’s second-largest city, is embracing AI through a master plan aimed at enhancing public services and fostering economic growth.

Can Tsukuba solve Japan’s biggest challenges?

09 May 2025 Tatsuo Igarashi - (Mayor)

Reading Time: 4 minutesTsukuba aims to be a leading city of the future, effectively managing Japan’s population decline by leveraging its research strengths and appeal. With advancements like generative AI and a focus on inclusivity, it addresses ageing challenges and enhances resident engagement. Tsukuba’s innovations position it as a model for sustainable urban development globally.

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Industrial strategy has a geography puzzle: Where should countries invest?