London has been named the world’s most innovative city in 2015,
according to the 9th annual Innovation Cities Index from 2thinknow, which
analysed 500 cities around the world on their potential for creation,
implementation and communication of ideas in their urban economies.
The index credits London as the “first European capital to implement
innovation strategies in response tot he global financial crisis,” with the
city out-performing previous winners Silicon Valley, Vienna and Boston to
be named the world’s most innovative.
“London’s win indicates the strength of the financial capital’s recent
focus on innovation, even beating out the tech standing of Silicon Valley,
with a lower cost base than San Francisco. London was the first European
capital to implement innovation strategies in response to the global
financial crisis, and is winning the global innovation race,” explains
Christopher Hire, executive director of 2thinknow.
Rounding out the top five, was fast rising Asian city Seoul, which
entered the top ten index for the first time. The next five cities in the
global top cities were New York, Amsterdam, Singapore, Paris and Tokyo.
The index also noted a number of “fast-rising” cities including
Barcelona, Beijing, St Petersburg, Taipei, Madrid,
Dublin, Mumbai, Oporto and Medellin, all graded according to improvements
in economic conditions, startup enterprises and technology sectors.
In the “emerging” region Dubai rose further globally to 23rd, ahead of
fellow emirate of Abu Dhabi at 42.
Overall, however, the percentage of North American cities in the top
hundred fell to 31 percent, which the percentage of Asian cities rose to 19
percent for the first time ever.
London wasn’t the only UK city to make the top 100 index, Manchester
came in at number 26, while Edinburgh was ranked 68, and Glasgow took 100th
spot.
Image: Visit London