2018 UAA Annual Conference

Just about all city leaders claim that their city is innovative, but are these claims based on solid evidence? It is certainly the case that, in recent years, the practice of urban innovation has emerged as an important policy movement in cities around the world. This international panel, which will share perspectives on urban innovation in different countries and contexts, aims to provide a range of new insights on the nature of urban innovation and the prospects for using experimental approaches to transform city governance. In both developed and developing countries urban innovation policies are now being used to reform government practice and stimulate governance transformation. International awards have been created to encourage city-to-city learning and exchange. For instance, the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (GIAUI), presented biennially and co-sponsored by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis) and the City of Guangzhou, recognizes the importance of innovation in improving social, economic and environmental sustainability in cities and regions. This panel will discuss two overlapping kinds of public innovation: 1) those that enhance governmental effectiveness (embracing the efficient and effective delivery of public services including, where appropriate, wise partnerships with a variety of stakeholders), and; 2) those that enhance the democratic quality of city governance (embracing measures designed to include voices that are often excluded, to increase citizen participation rates more generally, and to project the civic voice of local people beyond the boundaries of the city). The presentations in this panel will describe and analyse numerous efforts at urban innovation in different continents, including Asia, Europe, Central America and North America.


Moderator: Robin Hambleton, University of the West of England, Bristol


Urban Innovation, Governance and Development: Drawing Lessons from the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (GIAUI) 
Cathy Yang Liu, Georgia State University; Lin Ye, Sun-Yat-sen University


Urban Democratic Innovations: Comparing the Participatory Budget Agendas in Paris, Madrid and Mexico City 
Arturo Flores, Mexico Electoral Institute


US Cities in Challenging Times: Innovating While Constrained 
Christiana McFarland, National League of Cities (Presenter: Anita Yadavalli, National League of Cities)


The City Office Concept: Lesson Drawing from a Bold Urban Governance Innovation in Bristol, UK 
Robin Hambleton, University of the West of England, Bristol