Case Study

Ideopolis: knowledge city-regions - Cambridge case study  explores Cambridge’s strengths, challenges and opportunities within the framework of the nine Ideopolis drivers. It makes policy recommendations and shows what othercities can learn from Cambridge’s experience.

Key findings include:

• Physical Knowledge City: Cambridge has a number of high quality science parks on the city outskirts that have accommodated business growth and attracted new firms. However, the historic city centre constrains development, and house prices are high.
• Diverse specialisation: The driver of growth in Cambridge has been specialisation in a variety of niche, high-tech industries.
• Vibrant Education Sector: Cambridge University makes a huge contribution to and plays a significant role in the city.
• Distinctive knowledge city offer: Cambridge has an international reputation, and a distinctive business offering. A challenge here is the rise of companies that are seen to ‘piggy-back’ off the reputation of the university.
• Investing in Communities: Cambridge has good public services and an affluent population, but it needs to find ways to spread the wealth.