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Canada is well known around the world for its vibrant cities and multicultural identity. Cities like Vancouver function as “gateways” to foreign countries, providing a cultural reference point for local-to-global engagements.

The key to optimizing Vancouver’s “locational advantage” as a global knowledge and innovation hub is developing a curator’s instinct for new sources of social and economic value as well as a strategist’s aptitude for combining different, but complementary perspectives, in an integrated manner.

Follow the conversation in Vancouver and learn more about VSIR’s growing contribution to the social, economic, and intellectual life of this exceptional city.

INNOVATION IN CHINA: HOW DOES INNOVATION HAPPEN IN CHINA? STATE-PRIVATE PLAYERS IN NEW-OLD INDUSTRIES

by VSIR | Feb 18, 2020 | Global Perspective

China has changed markedly since 1970 when Canada established diplomatic relations, bringing it out of international isolation. Knowledge of China’s innovation capacity is key for Canada since the “world’s factory” aspires to a qualitative shift in development.

JAPAN’S LEADERSHIP IN THE LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL ORDER

by VSIR | Jan 30, 2020 | Strategic Leadership

Japan’s leadership on geopolitical and geoeconomic issues is instructive for liberal democracies like Canada which remain vulnerable to the disruption created by the strategic competition between China and the United States.

BROADWAY PLAN: KITSILANO STREETS AND PUBLIC REALM WORKSHOP

by VSIR | Dec 12, 2019 | Vancouver Ideas Market

Vancouver’s Broadway Plan provides an opportunity for over-the-horizon thinking and active participation in future planning processes that will help to optimize community resilience and adaptation, but the hard work is just beginning.

INTELLIGENT URBAN DESIGN: PREPARING FOR THE NEXT REVOLUTION

by VSIR | Nov 21, 2019 | Strategic Leadership

Contemporary urban governance requires a strategic rethink. While formidable, this multi-generational challenge can be overcome with right mix of intelligent design principles and integrated learning solutions.

URBAN DISPATCH #5 – A MUNICIPAL NOMINEE PROGRAM: CANADA’S NEW IMMIGRATION MILESTONE?

by VSIR | Oct 30, 2019 | Urban Dispatch

Canada continues to raise its immigration targets to attract global talent. But in a hyper-competitive world is that enough? Urban Dispatch 5 examines whether the proposed Municipal Nominee Program represents a new milestone.

SHAPING VANCOUVER 2019: WHAT’S THE USE OF HERITAGE?

by VSIR | Oct 16, 2019 | Vancouver Ideas Market

Vancouver’s “super diversity” is key to its global reputation as a “livable city of neighbourhoods” which is why the tangible and intangible value of heritage needs to be workable in daily life.

URBAN DISPATCH #4 – USING FORESIGHT ANALYSIS TO DRIVE INNOVATION EXCELLENCE

by VSIR | Sep 9, 2019 | Urban Dispatch

Rapid urbanization, economic transformation, and technological disruption reveal the limitations of “lessons learned” and “best practices.” In this issue of the Urban Dispatch, VSIR examines how to transcend those limitations using foresight analysis.