Innovation is not a causal, linear process, but a dynamic and ever-changing network of actors connected by activities and linkages, according to a report from the Council of Canadian Academies. Despite this complexity, however, by identifying behaviors that feed firm innovation, regions can make informed decisions about high-tech economic development. In the report, the council identifies quantitative ways to measure the actual and potential impact of innovation investments, along with presenting a new firm-centric model of innovation ecosystems.

In the evolving American economy, TBED is increasingly looked to as a potential driver of inclusive competitiveness, expanding and deepening economic opportunity for communities that suffer from poverty and unemployment. The Regional Federal Reserve Banks have been leading efforts to study the linkages between economic and community development and this week hosted a Connecting Communities webinar on Redefining the Rust Belt: The Role of Anchor Institutions and the Arts.