By Rob White
I have been asked several times recently where I get inspiration for my ideas and concepts on innovation. Though I would like to tell you my ideas are all original, I confess that I am a big believer in modelling best practices and replicating successful frameworks.
It should be noted that innovation does not occur in just technology or scientific research. Innovation is a mindset that allows for new, creative concepts and solutions. It is often born from re-working existing ideas or objects, and then reimagining them into something new. And it can be applied in arts, culture, work, management, leadership, economics and community interactions, as well as technology and science.
We often hear this expressed as social, public, scientific and technological innovation. Which I think tracks well with the discussion of social, environmental and economic sustainability.
I am hopeful that as more Davisites become better versed in innovation, entrepreneurship, startup culture and collaborative networks that our local ecosystem starts to take on the best characteristics of places often visit and marvel at their successes.
Places like Boulder, CO which has an academic core that has inspired community values of sustainability and innovation. Or Mission Bay of San Francisco and La Jolla/Torrey Pines Mesa of San Diego. And even Wageningen, Germany, which is often seen as the competition for the title of home to the world’s #1 agricultural university.
So let me share with you the list of resources that I try to review on a regular basis to see if any of these may be inspirational for you. Admittedly, I can’t read all of these all of the time, but even a glossary review can be inspirational.
Resources on Public Administration
Governing Magazine (monthly print magazine and online articles) – www.governing.com
Brookings Institute Briefs (email newsletter) – http://connect.brookings.edu
Public CEO (online newsletter for CA local government news) – www.publicceo.com
ICMA SmartBriefs (online newsletter from the International City/County Management Association) – www2.smartbrief.com/
EfficientGov Newsletter – http://efficientgov.com
City Lab (online resource from the Atlantic magazine) – www.citylab.com
Resources on Business, Economic and Community Development
FutureStructures Newsletter (resource on new community and economic development concepts by Governing Magazine) – Latest issue: http://www.governing.com/papers/In-Motion-How-Intelligence-is-Driving-the-Changing-Nature-of-Cities.html
The Atlantic magazine – www.theatlantic.com
Forbes magazine – www.forbes.com
The Economist – www.economist.com
EDlert (CALED online newsletter) – Most recent issue: http://www.mailermailer.com/x?function=view&c=169375066g-d0077167%2a1097394z-9260d051
Urban Land Institute – www.uli.org
Thomas Friedman (author and New York Times Columnist) – www.thomaslfriedman.com
Richard Florida (author and founder of the Creative Class Group) – www.creativeclass.com
Resources on technology and entrepreneurship
Government Technology (online) – www.govtech.com
Fast Company Magazine – www.fastcompany.com
Innovation Daily – http://innovationamerica.us/index.php/innovation-daily
TechFlash (An online resource from the Business Journals across the US) – www.bizjournals.com/
Techwire – www.techwire.net
BayBio Online newsletter – www.baybio.org
Digital Communities (online newsletter focused on technology in government, published by Govtech.com) – www.govtech.com
Xconomy Online Magazine – www.xconomy.com
Ideas Lab (online innovation resource from GE and Atlantic Cities Magazine) – www.ideaslaboratory.com
TED (international inspirational talk series) – www.ted.com
Of course, there are many other resources online and in print that might be helpful in becoming inspired. Please feel free to share your own sources of inspiration and make recommendations that may help our community grow in our collective search for best practices and model frameworks.
Thanks for considering my thoughts and I hope you will take some time to explore at least a few of the resources. My email is rwhite@cityofdavis.org if you choose to email me directly or you can follow me on Twitter @mrobertwhite.
nice little piece here, i’m going to bookmark as a reference guide on innovation.
Excellent. Thanks for the resources.