Our activities are focused on four key areas; thought leadership, networking, influencing and mobilising, with particular emphasis on taking action and encouraging others to take action in order to achieve our vision.
We develop leading global thinking on city and regional development, particularly learning from medium-sized, second cities that are recognised internationally as successful. This thought leadership is developed by way of research projects commissioned by Accelerate Cape Town, ongoing reading and networking with representatives of other organisations involved in city and regional development by the central staff of Accelerate Cape Town, attending local and international conferences, and visiting similar cities around the world to gain knowledge on how they have either succeeded or failed in their own development processes.
We act as a central point where people know that they can be put in touch with other leaders. We regularly bring together local leaders of business, government, labour, education, community and state-owned enterprises to ensure that they meet each other and can work together towards a common goal.
We use the thinking that we develop and the networks that we create to influence the leaders of business, government and other influential individuals and groups. Our intention is to encourage them to take action in ways today that will move the Cape closer towards our long-term vision.
In the words of Independent Scholar & Futurist Joel Barker, “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” We are driven to ensure that the ideas we develop, the networking we do and the influence we exert leads towards the implementation of projects by our partners. In particular, we encourage the formation of public private partnerships that advance the goal of achieving the long-term vision.