The World Economic Forum recently announced plans to establish a new global Centre for Urban Transformation headquartered in Detroit, Mich. The goal of the center is to increase public-private collaboration in cities and advance more inclusive and sustainable models for urban development. 

“Around the globe, cities are facing unprecedented challenges from COVID-19 to climate change, exposing deep systemic inequities,” said Jeff Merritt, head of Urban Transformation, World Economic Forum. “As we chart a course towards a more sustainable and equitable future, government cannot carry this burden alone; increased public-private cooperation is essential. Detroit is uniquely positioned to serve as the epicenter for this work—a hub for urban transformation and innovation that the world can look to for guidance and inspiration.”

The World Economic Forum will leverage its global network of leading companies, governments, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to support cities as they seek to rebuild their economies and forge more resilient communities. This includes mobilizing the global business community to commit expertise and resources in support of local communities, advancing models for inclusive urban development, and exploring new approaches to expand urban services and economic opportunity in low-income and traditionally marginalized communities.

The center will launch in October with a series of events and announcements showcasing innovative models of urban transformation from around the globe. Bedrock, Detroit’s largest real estate company, will host the center’s work in Detroit, providing a testbed to rethink and redefine the benefits and possibilities of urban living. Additional work will be led out of the World Economic Forum’s offices in Beijing, Geneva, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo.

“Bedrock is excited to bring the World Economic Forum and its global platform to Detroit,” said Kofi Bonner, CEO of Bedrock. “This partnership provides an opportunity to showcase Detroit’s extraordinary growth and positions Michigan’s largest city and international border as a global hub for best-in-class thinking on developing a next-generation, inclusive urban economy.”

Additional details are available at www.weforum.org.