This report, entitled A toolkit for adopting ideas from other cities, was prepared by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE), led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director, as part of the Programme of Work and Budget of the OECD Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC). The report was carried out with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The report was co-ordinated and drafted by Marion Lagadic, Economist/Policy Analyst, under the supervision of Camille Viros, Head of the Inclusive Growth in Cities Unit, and guidance of Aziza Akhmouch and Soo-Jin Kim, respectively Head and Deputy Head of the Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development (CITY) division in the CFE. Elizabeth Doherty and Thomas Kergonou Jimenez (both CFE) contributed to the drafting of the report, as well as to the co-ordination of the project. The report benefitted from strategic advice and guidance from Nadim Ahmad and Karen Maguire, as well as valuable inputs and comments from Maria Varinia Michalun, Alexander Lembcke and Andrew Lombardi in the CFE.
Sincere thanks go to James Anderson, Claudia Juech and Ryan Pierce from Bloomberg Philanthropies for their excellent co-operation and their suggestions and guidance throughout the project.
Warm thanks are extended to the experts from local governments, international organisations and academia who participated in interviews, and contributed to the in-person high-level workshop held on 30 June 2025 at the OECD Headquarters in Paris, as well as to the webinars held on 13 June 2025 and 2 February 2026. In alphabetical order of the surname: Thea Agnew Bemben (Anchorage, the United States), Murat Altunbas (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Mayumi Arimoto (Okayama, Japan), Carolina Araujo (Delivery Associates), Jaime Álvarez González (Renca, Chile), Nicolás Azócar Rojel (Renca, Chile), Brendan J. Babb (Anchorage, the United States), Raffaele Barbato (Rome, Italy), Pedro Rodrigo Barbier Rolim (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), David Bates (Visor Urbano, Mexico), Martin Born (The Hague, the Netherlands), Emily Cardon (Behavioural Insights Team, the United States), Jochem Cooiman (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Jorrit de Jong (Bloomberg Centre for Cities, Harvard University, the United States), Angie Deegan (Melbourne, Australia), James W. Dearing (Michigan State University, the United States), David Dolowitz (University of Liverpool, the United Kingdom), Kate Downes (Liverpool City Region, the United Kingdom), Elena Enseñado (Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Josefina Frei Arriagada (Renca, Chile), Joaquín Fuentealba Muñoz (Renca, Chile), Lucila García (Santa Fe, Argentina), Krista Kampus (Tallinn, Estonia), Indah Kartikasari (Tangerang, Indonesia), Masaki Kobayashi (Okayama, Japan), Bas van Kooperen (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Tijn Kuyper (The Hague, the Netherlands), Joselyn Letelier (Renca, Chile), Marilyn Maxwell (New Bedford, the United States), Kouzou Miyoshi (Okayama, Japan), Sergio Montero (University of Toronto, Canada), Susan Moore (University College London, the United Kingdom), Javier Morales Norambuena (Renca, Chile), Yunive Moreno Sánchez (Visor Urbano, Mexico), Monica Mosha (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania), Jemima Nalumansi (Kampala, Uganda), Ineke Nierstrasz (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Ayumi Okazaki (Okayama, Japan), Joseph Ong (Liverpool City Region, the United Kingdom), Ayodele Oso (Lagos, Nigeria), Meriç Özgüneş (Major Development Agency Thessaloniki, Greece), Michele Paul (New Bedford, the United States), Tyler Reis (New Bedford, the United States), Denise Riedl (South Bend, the United States), Mizuho Saitou (Sendai, Japan), Lara Schmidt (Vienna, Austria), Alena Sirka-Bred (Vienna, Austria), Lakshmi Somatunga (Colombo, Sri Lanka), Cristina Temenos (University of Manchester, the United Kingdom), Anthi Tsakiropoulou (Major Development Agency Thessaloniki, Greece), Margit Tünnemann (URBACT, European Territorial Cooperation Programme for Cities, Paris, France), Aya Yukawa (Okayama, Japan).
All respondents to the OECD/Bloomberg Philanthropies survey are also gratefully acknowledged, as well as attendees to the three project events for their participation and contributions.
Finally, thanks are extended to Bridgette Joyce, Alix Philouze and Jack Waters in the CFE for preparing the report for publication, and to Mana Sakamoto and Nanami Yano for their support in organising project events.