Innovation Analysts 2thinknow released today a 4 year global study of what makes cities innovative, in an in-depth report. Asia Pacific cities were now beating most U.S. cities in the innovation race due to a U.S. infrastructure gap, according to the report. Singapore was singled-out in competition with Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Japanese cities, as leading Asia in key innovation indicators – including broadband, start-ups, ports, freight and business approach. Chinese cities were flagged as behind, due to a lack of ongoing reform, although the report set out some key hopes. Christopher Hire, innovation analyst and Executive Director at 2thinknow, authors of the report, said that cities “want to innovate and profit from the new era of networks and connectivity will need to be networked. Not just digitally, but physically. The next high growth company - and next jobs - will come from clusters of cities that are interconnected.” “Cities that can inspire ideas, implement locally and network globally.” Digital mobility – an ability to be online anywhere – was singled-out as a key Asian advantage in innovation-led economic growth. Centre-piece of the report was the release of a 162 Indicator framework to build innovation cities globally. Examining 31 innovation segments, the 2thinknow Innovation Cities Framework applies 162 indicators in a structured analysis and planning framework for measuring, defining and building an innovation city. For analysis this is communicated as 3 factors - highly developed cultural assets, human infrastructure – for mobility, education, technology – and networked markets. Weaknesses in some Asian cities included the need to develop creativity, with solutions proposed including world-class cultural assets such as museums, galleries and sports stadiums. In the area of cultural assets and mobility, European cities were commended for out-performance. Cities like Amsterdam, Hamburg, Lyon and Copenhagen were seen as challenging Asia on technology with rising broadband speeds – enabling digital mobility – and fast inter-linked fast-rail, logistics and ports. According to the analysts, the framework is designed to “turn theory into action” – based on analysis from international research tours, published ideas of professors from Harvard, Oxford, Imperial College and leading independent authors. For city examples for each indicator, the report uses 2thinknow city benchmarking data from a pool of 256 cities. Copies of the report are available for order at http://www.innovation-cities.com Image of Christopher Hire, Executive Director of 2thinknow, presenting the Innovation Cities Analysis Report: http://www.asianetnews.net/special-events Media spokesperson: Christopher Hire, Executive Director, 2thinknow Phone: +61-409-787-960 Phone: +61-3-9225-5284 [switchboard SOURCE: 2thinknow