Somerville Launches 'Urban Lab' for Innovation

The city of Somerville has launched an Urban Lab Initiative—a call for pilot proposals from the private and academic sectors to address community goals like sustainability, economic development, and affordable housing. Chosen programs or technologies would receive technical support and use of city properties as testing grounds.

The competition builds on a previous city program, the Somerville GreenTech Initiative, which solicited proposals focused on environmental sustainability. "The Urban Lab broadens the pilot areas to include such issues as housing, social equity, economic development, sustainability, arts, education, government innovation, smart city infrastructure, and public health," The Boston Globe reports. John Laidler provides more details.