Case Study

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

Key findings include:

• Building on what’s there: The city has taken advantage of its historical position as capital and administrative centre of Scotland .
• Diverse specialisation: Whilst Edinburgh ’s economy is diverse, there is a concern about reliance on the public sector, with any future cutbacks jeopardising growth.
• High skill organisations: The city’s population is largely professional, and takes advantage of a range of reasonably well-paid, high skilled jobs.
• Vibrant education sector: There are five HEIs in the city: they offer a high educational standard and are reasonably well linked to local businesses.
• Distinctive knowledge city offer: Edinburgh has a distinctive offer, helped by its attractive built and natural environment and strong cultural offering, such as the festival.
• Leadership around a knowledge city vision: Like others, the city lacks coordinated governance across the city region level. This presents a current challenge (dealing with the consequences of success) as well as a future challenge (potential to constrain further growth).