Governments should get out of innovation's way (Amended)

Singapore

IT IS easier for citizens and private companies, rather than governments, to innovate, and speakers at the World Cities Summit closing plenary even suggested that governments should leave innovation alone and just focus on putting in place the necessary funding incentives and innovation-friendly rules.

Peter Ho, chairman of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), said that in today's environment, solutions are no longer just in the hands of experts or city officials; empowered citizens can as much become agents of positive change and innovation. "A smart city is in a sense only limited by our imagination ... However, municipal governments are not necessarily structured to reach this level of imagination and boldness. Maybe it is not even their business.