ABSTRACT
A learning city generates wealth and employment through innovative use of existing resources and through creative projects with other learning communities. In the same way that companies are being urged to become ‘world-class’, learning cities will also increasingly need to accept a similar challenge. Maintaining full employment is currently one of the most sought-after panaceas by local communities. In a highly competitive international environment, in which labour-intensive manufacturing industry has migrated away from the developed to the developing world, the production of high added-value goods and services becomes increasingly important. One of the growth generating initiatives a learning city can stimulate is the creation of synergy between large and small industries in a locality. The presence of a large company in the community will almost certainly stimulate local SME growth and job creation. The establishment of electronic working links between learning cities helps to generate social and financial benefits.
