The Cognizant analysis suggests that innovation may come not from geographic capitols but from economic zones that maximize human capital. (Photo: Shutterstock)
In 2020, the global pandemic brought the kind of disruption no one hopes for—but along with the bad news came some silver linings—and few were more intriguing that trend of radically re-imagining what, and where, the workplace can be.
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Along those lines, a new report from Cognizant takes a deep dive into where the digital economy may take us next, focusing on new locations for innovation and economic growth. The "21 Places of the Future" report looks at a variety of locations that may be primed to become growth centers in the near future.
The future as both a direction and a location
The report noted that many people see the future being written in "other places"—and seeks to outline not only where those places might be, but how they built their foundation for supporting change and new ideas. Among the locations featured are Nairobi, Kenya (financial services technology); Kochi, India (sustainability); and Dundee, Scotland (digital sports).
In identifying these geographic centers of innovation, the study looked at a number of factors, including three key components: local government, quality of colleges and universities, and access to private capital. Into each of these categories was packed a number of components, including infrastructure, environment, lifestyle, talent pools, and affordability. Starting with a list of more than 150 places, the analysts used data from sources such as the World Economic Forum to score locations based on the elements above. The resulting list, the report said, are the top locations for innovation, new ideas, and new ways of working and living.
A multi-media report
Adding digital content to the numbers and analysis, Cognizant included a series of short documentary videos on seven of the 12 places featured in the report. "The movies were all made by different filmmakers living and working where they shot – a diverse and talented cadre of young, up-and-coming cinematographers who helped us get inside their hometowns, and tell the important stories that make them special places of the future," the report said.
The study also drew on the work of modern media explorers like Thomas Friedman, Anthony Bourdain, and J.D. Vance—writers, directors, and academics who have focused on innovation and new experiences.
Next stop: Nova Hanseatica
The Cognizant analysis talks bluntly about the limitations of national governments, and the report's focus on cities suggests that innovation may come not from geographic capitols but from economic zones that maximize human capital. "Nova Hanseatica" is the report's example of the concept: a "post-nation-state organizational structure for the future," the report called it.
"Even before the pandemic, California had already gone its own way, regardless of Washington's policy posture, on meeting its commitments to climate change (and cannabis consumption). Meanwhile, a coalition of mayors across the U.S. announced pilot programs for Universal Basic Income," the report noted. "In Britain, Scotland could be primed to launch an independence referendum in the wake of Brexit that would realign Edinburgh with Brussels (not London). …In late 2019, the mayors of Budapest, Prague, Warsaw and Bratislava signed a "Pact of Free Cities" to support their pro-EU electorate against socially conservative national governments and in favor of green policies."
These efforts could be the seeds of a new kind of society, the study said. "With each passing year, while more places might not be physically connected or even part of the same nation, their affinity for working toward mutual interests will increasingly be amplified by the use of digital technologies."
As for remote work, the report said workers now can be productive in a range of settings, from small towns to big cities. "Despite concerns about isolation or loneliness, the data overwhelmingly suggests that people working from home are happier and more productive," the study said. "Companies lagging behind on work-from-home policies and support structures risk losing the arms race of talent acquisition in the future of work."
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