A Municipality’s Role in the Innovation Ecosystem
In this year’s municipal election, innovation is a key talking point.
Many Albertans are heading to the polls, electing their municipal government representatives. There are numerous important topics being addressed in this election, one of which is the economy. And while the economy is often viewed primarily as a provincial- or federal-level responsibility, the role of municipal governments in the economic prosperity of a local region is vital, especially when it comes to its ability to attract entrepreneurship and innovation. In Future Agenda’s 2017 report, “Future of Cities: Insights from Multiple Expert Discussions Around the World”, cities are described as the place “where innovation happens” and “where ideas are formed from which economic growth largely stems.”
In Edmonton, innovation plays an especially significant role. Over the past years, our city has been featured in several global rankings for innovative cities. For example, in 2020, StartupBlink ranked Edmonton to be among the top 100 ecosystems worldwide and Startup Genome listed the city as one of the Top 10 North American Ecosystems for Affordable Talent. With the significant economical and social tolls brought on by COVID-19, the role of innovation has become increasingly vital to the economic prosperity of the region, requiring the support of all relevant stakeholders. As a result, leaders in the governing bodies of cities become key in establishing and maintaining a flourishing innovative local economy.
Municipal governments’ support towards entrepreneurship and innovation can come in many forms. In a recent report aired on CBC Edmonton’s Radio Active, Madeleine Cummings outlines the three main economic recovery areas that the city’s mayoral candidates are focusing on: permits, partnerships, and procurement.
Reducing red tape is one was that municipal governments can incentivize innovation and entrepreneurship, and the City of Edmonton is actively working on ways to reduce the regulatory barriers that may hinder economic growth. Through the “Reductions to Small Business Regulations” report, the City outlines strategies to “move administration closer to a one-third reduction in overall timelines and associated red tape.” Numerous Canadian cities, such as Halifax and Medicine Hat, are also working on implementing red tape reduction strategies in an effort to encourage an entrepreneurial and innovative environment.
While he was President of PayPal Canada, Paul Parisi wrote an article in the Globe and Mail, titled “The power of partnerships: Why businesses are better together”, where he describes collaboration as “one of the most strategic ways for businesses to scale their innovation and solve complex challenges.” Just like businesses, municipal governments also expand their potential to succeed when they collaborate with different stakeholders, developing an innovative culture in the city. This can include partnering with different levels of government, other municipalities, and public and private organizations. For example, in its 2009 “Strategy for Partnerships and Innovation” report, the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada notes how partnerships between different levels of government can streamline processes, eliminating redundancies and encouraging innovation. Further to this point, MNP’s 2019 survey on “Change, Innovation and Western Municipalities” lists inter-municipal collaboration as a “critical component” for “successful innovative activities.”
Finally, procurement decisions play a significant role in catalyzing innovation municipally. In a 2020 article in the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy Publication, Daria Crisan writes about “Buying with Intent: Public Procurement for Innovation by Provincial and Municipal Governments”, stating that “public procurement is potentially the most powerful, yet currently underutilized, tool for stimulating innovation from the demand side”. Crisan suggests increasing the opportunities for small and medium-sized business to participate in tenders, while encouraging the procurement of innovative solutions through incentives.
Voting is a valuable right, giving us direct control over who takes on leadership positions that impact our daily lives. Take the opportunity to explore the different platforms of the mayoral candidates and your ward’s councilor candidates and discover their different plans for our beloved city. For more on Edmonton’s mayoral candidates’ platforms as they relate to economic development, you can listen to the segment from CBC Edmonton’s Radio Active here:
