Nesta has updated its list of digital cities. London has come out as #1 out of 60, I'm delighted to say! Several other cities in the UK are on the list too, together with lots from all over Europe.
I was surprised that Cambridge is 'only' at number 12, as there are a lot of links between tech companies and the university there.
Nesta's blog about the index is interesting. I especially like the observation,
"All models are wrong, but some are useful."
That's pretty much what economists think too!
There's also a new Ideas bank, a document setting out ways in which policy-makers can encourage tech start-ups in their cities. Read Jo Caird's article (see below) for what can happen when rents, for instance, are too high.
Here are some links you may find useful, interesting or both. Something to discuss with pupils perhaps?
The tech city index (interactive page)
Info about the ideas bank, with a link to download the report
Article by Jo Caird about the effects of high rents on start-ups in London
Article by Phoebe Luckhurst about an innovative new office space in Shoreditch, London
Finally, a useful tip for making your lessons relevant in a local sense. Type 'digital [your city]' into Google and see what comes up. You may be pleasantly surprised at the resources available you didn't know about. For instance, using that search term I've discovered organisations that work closely with schools on digital projects.
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