City Innovation Snapshot
MONTREAL, CanadaOverview► Mayor: Valérie Plante► Term: 2017-2021► Innovation Lead: Stéphane Guidoin► Population size: 2.03 million (2018)► Innovation / open data website:
https://laburbain.montreal.ca/

What is the organisationalstructure?

Situated in the City Manager’s office,Montreal Urban Innovation Lab is divided
into 3 units: Open Data, Smart Cities, andInnovation and Experimentation which
consist of 18 staff.
Staff skills and profiles include:● Project Manager● Data Scientist● Strategic Communications● Engineer● Designer● Community Engagement● Business Analyst● Change Management Advisor

Spotlight | CityStudio Montreal

An initiative currently in its pilot phase, CityStudio Montreal serves as abridge connecting city staff expertise and student creativity to tackle
complex urban issues. The initiative matches urban problems identified
by city staff with courses at partner universities, providing publicservants and students with a chance to work together to co-create andprototype their innovative solutions. CityStudio Montreal serves as aunique method to strengthen civic participation and resident
engagement by creating meaningful collaboration aimed at improving
the community.

What is the city’s innovation vision?

Like 50% of cities surveyed, Montreal has no formal innovation strategy.
The city most closely associates innovation capacity with:● Big picture re-thinking● Hierarchy-busting

What is the city’s innovation approach?

Similar to more than half of cities surveyed, Montreal approaches
innovation capacity both from a holistic / macro level and in specificpolicy areas.
The top two priority policy areas for the city’s innovation work are:Transport /mobilityDigitalGovernance

What innovation partnerships exist?

Montreal has developed partnerships to promote innovation capacitywith other public agencies, private firms, not-for-profit organisations,and city residents/resident associations.
To improve data use, the city has also developed data partnerships withthe private sector, academia and think tanks, to collect and analyse data,
as well as with other cities.

City Innovation Snapshot
MONTREAL, Canada
What funding is available?
Like 81% of cities surveyed, Montreal has dedicated funding to support innovation capacity, which comesfrom the following sources: International/multilateral institution budget
 Higher levels of government Municipal budget (operating budget)
Montreal’s funding for innovation capacity is generally directed towards training staff and building
capacity, generating ideas and brainstorming and paying for third-party services

How is innovation helping the city?

 Improving service delivery
 Engaging residents and other stakeholders
 Anticipating and managing future challenges

The most critical success factors in supporting the city’s innovation work are dedicated funding, a focus
on metrics, a dedicated innovation team, Human Resource involvement and support from the broader
community.

How is data used?

Montreal does not currently use data to align its budget process with its strategic priorities. Challenges
preventing the use of data to support innovation goals include the fact that data are seldom shared
among agencies and that data collection and analysis is not an institutional priority.
Montreal maintains a comprehensive data inventory to make data more accessible, publishes open data
online and provides clear how-to guidance to help residents access and use city data.

How are outcomes measured?

Policy areas with sufficient data or without sufficient data to support innovation capacity in the city.
Transport / Mobility

EconomicDevelopment

Housing

Policing and Law
Enforcement

HealthGovernment FinanceWaste and Sewage

Labour Market andSkills

Environment andClimate Change

Education

CultureSocial Inclusion,Equity

Public Works

Tourism

Digital Governance

NB: No response provided by the city for the policy areas in grey.