The mission of Leading Cities is to bring the world together in common purpose through innovative problem-solving, one city at a time. Recent efforts in Lisbon show that the organization is achieving this goal. Mike Lake, founder and CEO of Leading Cities, recently led their annual summit. During the summit, protocols were signed with local stakeholders including the municipal government of the City of Lisbon and the University of Lisbon. Through Leading Cities and their work together, the city and the university are bridging the town-gown divide. This partnership was officially recognized at a signing ceremony in Lisbon City Hall with representatives from six nations in attendance. Later that same day at another landmark signing ceremony hosted in the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Portugal Robert Sherman, Leading Cities inaugurated its Lisbon Local Advisory Board. The first two members of this Local Advisory Board, which will engage representatives from the public, private, non-profit and academic sectors, were IBM and Brisa. The signing ceremony and reception were held in collaboration with the US Embassy and the Life Sciences trade mission, which introduced potential opportunities to for US and Portuguese efforts to accelerate innovation and bring ideas, medicine, and technology from lab to market.

Author: Jeffery Anderson-Burgos