The new network will be a part of the City Possible program

Mastercard launches a global network for urban co-development. Source: shutterstock.com

Mastercard launched a unique global network for urban co-development. As part of its City Possible program, Mastercard is connecting cities with academia and businesses to identify common challenges that can be best addressed through collaboration.

Sixteen cities are becoming founding members of the global City Possible network – Athens, Aurora, IL, Baltimore, Dubai, Dublin, Helsinki, Honolulu, Kansas City, Melbourne, Prague, San Diego, and Altamonte Springs, FL, as well as the Greater Sydney communities of Campbelltown, Canterbury Bankstown, Liverpool, and Wollondilly. The network is open for additional cities to join.

As a key component of City Possible, Mastercard is partnering with the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard University which will host a series of programs to foster a regular learning exchange among global city leaders. The first convening will take place this week at Smart City Expo in Barcelona and focus on urban planning, mobility services, and data insights. Participants will also have access to an online community where they can continue the dialogue with their peers.

City Possible will provide a framework for co-creating, testing and scaling solutions – connecting cities with private sector players that are equally committed to people-centered design. One of the areas that exemplifies the advantages of city-to-city collaboration is public transit.

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