In my latest article for ‘I by IMD’, I argue that over the last few decades, cities have proved they can be more agile, innovative, and open in many ways than most nation-states — often including their own. Look at how cities like Bilbao, Medellin and Kigali have been able to change their image radically in record-short times, for instance.
By moving closer to center stage, cities have been drawn into a vortex of complex forces that had not traditionally been part of their environment. Some cities had to take health measures into their own hands during COVID-19 in instances when their respective country governments seemed slow or reluctant to do so. Many Brazilian cities fell in this category; they had to learn to become global competitors, to design and adopt innovative (often unprecedented and untested) strategies, and to accept new responsibilities.
Along the way, all these cities have had to learn how to be future-ready. Large hubs like Singapore or Shanghai have long been doing this, but today they are joined by a whole host of smaller cities that are very quickly learning how to become globally competitive.
By putting future-readiness at the center of their competitiveness and branding strategies, cities are playing a central role on defining the next wave of globalization. Mastering technology is only a part of being smart. Being human-centric, inclusive and environmentally sustainable are the true priorities by which cities can contribute to making tomorrow a better place for all of us.
