U of T at centre of 'North American City of the Future'
Published: April 10, 2013
Toronto takes a top spot in Foreign Direct Investment Magazine’s American Cities of the Future 2013/2014 rankings, coming in at second place behind New York in the report’s rankings for Top 10 North American Cities of the Future.
“The year 2012 signified Toronto’s best for FDI since fDi Markets records began in 2003,” author Jacqueline Walls wrote in the bi-annual Foreign Direct Investment Magazine (fDi) report. “Toronto was a key destination in the region, with FDI up 40% in 2012.”
This top ranking demonstrates that the vibrant culture of entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto exists at the centre of an important community for the world of innovation. U of T’s students and researchers participate in Toronto’s top-ranked culture of innovation through businesses developed at the Banting and Best Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, MaRS and dozens of other spaces, programs and initiatives.
Toronto also placed second behind New York in fDi's rankings for 'Business Friendliness' and second behind Montreal for 'FDI strategy.'
In rankings that encompassed the Americas, Toronto placed third overall — trailing only New York and São Paolo — which took first and second place respectively. This overall ranking brought Toronto in ahead of Chicago, Miami and San Francisco.
The most notable story within this most recent edition of the 'American Cities of the Future' edition was the second place overall ranking of São Paolo, home to U of T’s major research partner, the University of São Paulo.
“For the first time in fDi Magazine’s bi-annual rankings, the Brazilian city of São Paulo has not only entered the top 10, but it ranked second overall,” wrote Walls. “São Paulo is a key player in the global FDI arena.”
U of T recently partnered with University of São Paulo in a significant agreement to collaborate in the key areas of neuroscience, global cities and innovation, oncology, and international relations.
These and additional American Cities of the Future rankings can be found in fDi’s report online.
