Medellin, a 4 million population metropolitan city in Colombia, has transformed itself from ‘the most violent city in the world’ to a vibrant, growing global innovation destination in little more than a generation. In our latest LEDConfidential episode, David and Mike speak with Professor Ana Ortega of EAFIT University about ‘The Medellin Miracle’ with its ‘City of Eternal Spring’ strapline. How much is this PR and how much is rooted in a model of inclusive innovation from which we all can learn?
What have been the key drivers of Medellin’s urban transformation?
“Innovation cannot thrive in a failed society” explains Professor Ortega. Early stages of Medellin’s urban transformation had to find ways to reconnect peripheral and vulnerable communities with the city’s economic success, as an alternative to a drug-based black economy. The construction of a modern affordable metro-system including innovative cable cars to peripheral communities up the mountains, the creation of a northern ‘Innovation District’ in the poorer area north of the city centre, provision of decentralised community facilities and services in the remote communas, are dramatic inftrastructure investments to enable social mobility alongside economic growth.
What are the key ingredients of Medellin’s model for growth and development?
Professor Ortega described key features of Medellin’s transformation journey:
CUEE – a regular (monthly) forum for anchor institution collaboration that keeps all major role players involved beyond political cycles. CUEE’s deliberative and communication functions build trust, shared values in and ambitions for the city’s future.
Long-term, large scale and considerable city autonomy – The city adopts long-term plans, is able to mobilise and deploy resources at scale (with significant contributions from city-owned institutions including the utility companies) and has considerable governmental and soft powers to make and deliver major decisions determining its future.
Recognising the importance of community ownership and pride in the journey – the metro; the location of a large innovation district in the north – not just the Ruta-N innovation and enterprise hub but also the Parque Explorer, Botanical Gardens, a University, Hospital, Museum, public and commercial spaces; open digital platforms for citizens to share ideas; education programmes to empower young people from vulnerable communities and many more. Signature practical statements of inclusion and social mobility are critical.
Medellin’s journey is strongly rooted in its geography and history. Professor Ortega suggests this is not easily transferrable. But, the ingredients of public-private partnership and anchor institution collaboration, of long-term strategies with resource adequacy, of inclusion-rich intervention strategies, are all recognisable agendas in places where LEDC listeners live and work.
What are the future challenges?
Urban transformation is always a journey without a final destination. Going forward, Professor Ortega highlighted two very different type of challenges, both of which will be very familiar to LED and placemaking practitioners.
Following hard infrastructure investment success, greater attention needs to be given long term to human capital and softer systems for addressing basic human needs. The need for a whole systems approach is paramount – for instance, in education and skills, you learn differently if your cognitive development has been blighted by acute poverty and malnutrition.
At the other end of the scale, national – regional – city alignment always has tensions. These are currently amplified by different political control at national and city levels. Medellin has been designated as Colombia’s first ‘Science Technology and Innovation (STI) district’. This gives the city powers and resources to develop its global profile, innovation assets and capabilities. Balancing national, regional and local goals in how the city delivers the designation, and ensuring the lure of global excellence does not displace Medellin’s strong social innovation values, will be a challenge. It’s not dissimilar but goes well beyond the scope of the UK’s Investment Zones, Freeports, and other area-based initiatives (ABIs) we have discussed on LEDC.
Much more than a miracle…resilience rather than optimism
Professor Ortega ends with a rejection of hope-for-the-best optimism. Medellin’s journey demonstrates the resilience of local people in the face of the city’s considerable barriers of history and geography. Being proactive, dynamic, and engaged on an enduring basis, gives Medellin confidence to face the future. Whatever our places’ culture and context, these are attributes that all ambitious cities and regions will wish to nurture.
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