Innovative city index and its application for stimulating inclusive, sustainable and connected innovative city development

As most innovation indexes involve a focus on the national level, one of their limitations is that they cannot accurately reflect or account for area-based innovative development. Thus, such indicators might not be able to stimulate new ideas that are more relevant in specific areas than they are at the national level. By considering existing innovative city indexes that have been developed in high-income contexts, they can fill the gap in the national ones but unfortunately, these initiatives pay particular attention only to boosting the urban economy. Consequently, such formulas mislead development by guiding us towards the incubation of new start-ups, whether or not they are socially and environmentally responsible and connected across boundaries. The National Innovation Agency, Thailand, in collaboration with the Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy, has initiated a new innovative city measurement that is more sensitive to the stimulation of city development in a way that is inclusive, sustainable and connected across information units, physical spaces, and innovators. This article addresses how this inventory is being developed and what differences it could make, particularly when it is adopted in the low- and middle-income contexts.

Automated summary

Most innovation indexes focus on the national level, which may not accurately reflect regional innovative development. City innovation indexes, however, tend to focus more on urban economic development. A new innovative city measurement developed by the National Innovation Agency of Thailand in collaboration with Chiang Mai University is inclusive, sustainable, and aims to promote city development.