Washington D.C.-based Metrolab Network has formed an advisory council to oversee its efforts and the council will be chaired by former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley. The goal of the network and its advisory council is to help municipalities as they work through technology and improvement projects.
Other members of the newly formed council include former mayors, CEOs and academics. (Full list here)
Metrolab Network includes nearly 40 partnerships between local governments and their university partners, focused on researching and deploying technologies and policy approaches for cities. The organization is supported by grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
MetroLab Network connects cities and universities via a national, collaborative platform that shares information and helps technology scale. The advisory council will bring its expertise to the platform in order to further the work being done in cities.
In addition to the advisory council launch, the network also released a white paper detailing its university partnership model and its benefits for cities as well as students. The network is engaging in more than 100 research and development programs with this model.
“Based on my experience as Mayor of the District of Columbia, in the private sector and as a leader of non-profit organizations focused on improving cities, I have seen firsthand the benefits of collaboration,” said Tony Williams, who currently serves as Executive Director and CEO of the Federal City Council in DC. “Through MetroLab, partnerships with universities allow cities and their residents to realize the benefits offered by digital and information technology, data analytics and sensing.”
