From empty desks to full homes: Can office conversions solve the housing crisis?

Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the Paris region, over 5.6 million square meters of office space sit vacant. At the same time, demand for housing (especially social housing) has reached critical levels, with fourteen applications per allocation on average. This mismatch – between empty offices and overcrowded homes, raises important issues about how we can make better use of the built environment to meet urgent housing needs. 

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Reigniting investment: How SMEs can lead the way

Reading Time: 4 minutesSince the global financial crisis, business investment has struggled to recover, with real investment still 23% below its pre-2008 trend. The world isn’t short of good ideas or businesses, nor of finance. Yet the actual investment needed to fuel growth, jobs and the twin transitions continues to fall short. Can smarter policies on SME financing reignite investment and lead our economies to their best selves? 

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Why cities must build, not buy, the infrastructure of intelligence

Reading Time: 4 minutesAcross the world, cities are quietly delegating the details of daily life to new artificial intelligence (AI) systems that make data driven recommendations about how resources and priorities are distributed. What begins as a promise of efficiency can also quietly define the invisible architecture of who controls public life. The work ahead calls for civic imagination and for ambitious leaders who can link algorithms to accountability.

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From informality to inclusion: Sharing Latin America’s rural resources

Reading Time: 4 minutesLatin America’s rural communities produce much of the food, energy and minerals the world depends on. Yet for many rural residents, the promise of lasting prosperity often remains out of reach – because despite this wealth, insecure and informal work is widespread, undermining livelihoods, services, and long-term opportunity. But with the right tools and trust in place, rural regions can move from informality to inclusion. 

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COGITO Talks… La République des Hyper Voisins

Reading Time: 21 minutesThis conversation dives into how a small gathering in a local restaurant blossomed into a powerful neighbourhood network grounded in trust, conviviality, and mutual support. From organising a 1 500-person street banquet to creating WhatsApp groups that connect thousands of residents, Patrick and Marion share how intentional social ties can strengthen safety, wellbeing, and even help older neighbours remain in their homes. 

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On the Edge: Will AI Unlock or Undermine Youth Entrepreneurship? 

Reading Time: 4 minutesAround the world, young entrepreneurs are showing that AI can be a technological and entrepreneurial revolution. By automating the mundane, amplifying creativity, and expanding access to knowledge, AI gives young founders the tools to build more resilient, innovative, and growth-ready businesses. With the right support today, AI can help unlock a future where every young entrepreneur has the tools and confidence to shape the economy of tomorrow. 

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Rethinking rural realities: what the challenges are and where the opportunities lie

Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the popular mindset, rural regions often conjure up images of dereliction and decline. Yet this is far from the reality. Rural areas are home to 30% of the OECD population and in some cases are outpacing cities in growth, productivity, and innovation. Why then do outdated narratives of rural decline continue to overshadow their contributions? It is time to dismantle the myths holding these regions back.

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From roots to returns: engaging diasporas to tackle skills gaps

Reading Time: 4 minutesAcross the OECD, regions are scrambling for the skills needed to boost regional prosperity. For many, mobilising diaspora communities could help bolster the workforce, investment, and civic energy. Pairing quick fixes and core place-based investments in attractiveness factors like housing and public services can turn attachment into arrivals and long-term retention. The time is right: the pool of potential returners is large, and we are getting a handle on what works. Regions should act now to convert existing attachment into renewed demographic and socio-economic vitality.  

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