The Smart Centres Index explores the ability of global commercial centres to be hubs for the development of new technology. In SCI 4, New York takes first place, with London returning to second place.
Leading centres in the SCI are based in places which combine an innovative, cultural centre with a high-performing university sector across STEM subjects, supported by a well-developed regulatory, commercial and financial services sector.
Overview
- Western European centres feature strongly, with seven centres in the top 10, alongside New York in first place, and Hong Kong and Singapore from Asia/Pacific.
- US and Chinese centres do not feature as highly in the index as might be expected given the extent of their development in technology, as shown by their leading position in the filing of patents and with China leading the US on this measure.
- Looking at the dimensions that make up the SCI, US centres generally rank lower for Creative Intensity than their overall rank; Chinese and other Asia/Pacific centres score lower for Innovation Support, including regulation, than they do for the other dimensions.
SCI 4 Results
- New York regained its first position in the index, remaining the only US centre in the top 10.
- London took second place, with Oxford, Cambridge, Hong Kong, and Singapore taking the next places.
- Copenhagen joins the index in 8th place, replacing Geneva in the top 10.
- Only three centres rose 10 or more places in the rankings in SCI 4, while six centres fell 10 or more places.
The top 20 ranked centres in SCI 4 are shown in the table below:
Full details of SCI 4 can be found at www.smartcentresindex.net
Professor Michael Mainelli, Executive Chairman of Z/Yen said:
“Technology and science change how we engage with the world. The pace of innovation is heightened as connectivity keeps increasing. More and more, the successful commercial centres in the world are those who nurture technology. These smart centres are forming in four clusters, an exceptionally strong UK, North America, Europe, and southeast Asia. We anticipate the emergence of a singular China soon too. Policy makers are realising that narrow technology areas, e.g. fintech, are not sufficient and they need to rethink how they build a truly smart, knowledge economy. We have much to learn.”
We invite all those with an interest in the development of innovation centres to take part in SCI 5 by rating the financial and commercial centres you know here – smartcentresindex.net/survey/.
