Policy Research Initiative

The Policy Research Initiative conducts research in support of the Government of Canada’s medium term agenda on emerging horizontal issues such as population aging, poverty and exclusion, sustainable development, multicultural Canada and youth. the Publications sections include numerous working papers, reports, briefings and journals on these issues and more.

Local Innovation Systems Project

The MIT-based Local Innovation Systems Project gathers a remarkable research team in trying to address issues of economic prosperity of local communities in the rapidly changing global economy, focusing on innovation as promoter of productivity growth and competitive advantage. 23 locations in the United States, Finland, Japan, the United Kingdom, Norway, Ireland, India, Taiwan and Israel have been used as case studies. The Working Papers sections provide strong theoretical and empirical research on innovation promotion policy.

Smart Growth Online

The Smart Growth Network was formed in 1996 in response to increasing community concerns about the need for new ways to grow that boost the economy, protect the environment, and enhance community vitality. The Smart Growth Online website provides a a searchable catalogue of reports, websites, tools and case studies dating from 1997 until today, which can be brwosed by issue, principle, type and State.

Strategic Planning in the Technology-Driven World: A Guidebook for Innovation-Led Development

A state-of-the-art planning guide from the US Economic Development Administration targeted at helping strategy-makers adopt a realistic, principles-based approach to innovation-based strategic planning. Providing simultaneously conceptual framework, empirical evidence and practical tools, it definitely captures the change in the planning paradigm which must go along with the changing nature of economic development dynamics. Other pluses include links for diverse (American) support institutions and programmes.

Economic Development Administration (2001) ‘Strategic Planning in the Technology-Driven World: A Guidebook for Innovation-Led Development’, Washington: U.S. Department of Commerce.