Welcome

Worldwide competition is focused neither on countries nor on individual cities, but on large metropolitan regions that function as individual economic units. The globalization of the world’s economy requires regions and their leadership to understand how they are performing compared to similar areas worldwide.

The International Regions Benchmarking Consortium is a network of sophisticated city-centered metropolitan areas that find it mutually beneficial to compare themselves to each other using a common set of economic and social data points. The goal of the Consortium is twofold:

  1. Develop a shared set of economic and social indicators for each participating region that show evidence of best practices in certain areas. This resource will allow self-evaluation of economy, society, environment, infrastructure, and other relevant urban issues using other regions around the world as a benchmark.
  2. Build a learning community that shares these best practices in a way that makes other participant regions more competitive in the global economy. What makes this international collaboration unique is its emphasis on shared learning. This effort moves beyond old models of ranking and competition, and instead focuses on common challenges, complementary strengths, and innovative collaborations.

The member regions in the Consortium are:

  1. Barcelona, Spain
  2. Daejeon, South Korea
  3. Dublin, Ireland
  4. Fukuoka, Japan
  5. Helsinki, Finland
  6. Melbourne, Australia
  7. Munich, Germany
  8. Seattle, USA
  9. Stockholm, Sweden
  10. Singapore (observer)
  11. Vancouver, Canada (observer)

Process

The International Regions Benchmarking Consortium is administered by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) in Seattle. Benchmark data is collected by each participating region and then compiled by the PSRC. The initial set of indicators will be kept to a manageable number agreed upon by the members of the network. Over time, mutually agreed upon indicators can be added or those not felt to be useful can be removed. A deadline will be set for each region to submit the data in an agreed upon format. The PSRC will compile the information and return it to the members.

The benchmarking program may generate ideas for research or in-depth analysis between members or throughout the network. Ultimately, the primary concept is that comparing ourselves will allow us to better reflect on our own circumstances.

Background

The Consortium was developed through a joint effort of the PSRC, Technology Alliance and Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle (Trade Alliance). In January 2007, these Seattle organizations extended invitations to a select few regions to participate in this effort. A primary consideration in selecting the regions is those places where the Trade Alliance has organized an International Study Mission and has contacts.

Consortium members met in Seattle September 10-12, 2007 for a working symposium to discuss and clarify the agreed upon benchmarking indicators and begin the planning for the June 2008 conference. The symposium was the first step in a new effort to move beyond old models of ranking and competition, and instead focus on common challenges, complementary strengths, and innovative collaborations.

The first annual conference is scheduled for June 1 to June 4, 2008 in Seattle. Subsequent conferences will be hosted by a different region each time.

For additional information

Sponsored by:

Conference presented by:

Prosperity Partnership

Copyright © 2008 International Regions Benchmarking Consortium