From Christopher Hire, Executive Director, 2thinknow

Mr. Hire comments on Philadelphia's place in the Innovation Cities Analysis Report released October 2009.

Philadelphia placed 6th in the USA, 5th in North America behind Toronto, and 32nd globally. "Neighbourhoods will be increasingly critical as the auto-dependent suburbs are vacated, or at least, evolve. Philly is centred around interconnected neighbourhoods, giving us even the term 'Philadelphia Rows'. A high degree of cultural assets both nationally historical & scientific, relative to other US cities. One example of this more globally-focussed US city is the Rodin Museum, a French sculptor, an example of Pennsylvania outward-facing cultural thinking."

"A passionately supported multi-million dollar sports industry, like number one-ranked city Boston, is also critical to Philadelphia's development. Multi-nationals, a large domestic market of 5 million plus, as well as a good US domestic market complete the picture."

"For Philadelphia to improve further globally, Philadelphia must work to improve it's global direct air connections, commercial ties and tourist profile throughout Europe and strong developed Asian countries like Australia or Japan - perhaps at the city-level. Philadelphia is a key innovation nexus, critical to the development of world-class ideas, and will, on balance, exert a leadership position within North America within the critical 2010-2020 period."