IDRC announces nomination process for 2001 Global Innovators Award

The International Development Research Council Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2001 Global Innovators Award. This award recognizes excellence in the strategic management of corporate real estate.

Both IDRC and non-IDRC members are encouraged to apply. Corporations, service providers, communities, economic development organizations and government agencies can nominate themselves, their clients, or others in more than one category. The categories include:

Innovations in Corporate Real Estate And Workplace Management

The focus of this category is on identifying innovative practices being applied by corporations to meet their real estate and workplace needs. Examples of the types of information that might be addressed in this category include how Corporate Real Estate (CRE) departments are using the web and other technologies to:

• Position, market and brand themselves in an e-business world
• Align CRE with corporate or business unit goals
• Implement new organizational strategies
• Improve portfolio management
• Improve the delivery of CRE services internationally
• Achieve higher levels of integration and efficiency
• Manage and improve key CRE processes, projects or tasks such as web-enabled acquisition, disposition, site selection, design, construction, project management, facilities management, etc.
• Meet demands for new levels of flexibility and agility
• Attract and retain employees and provide a higher level of service while improving productivity
• Manage performance and create value for the enterprise

Innovations by Service Providers

Examples in this category include how real estate service providers are using the web and other technologies to:

• Manage their internal operations
• More effectively leverage their market knowledge and information
• Support or enhance services provided to corporate or government clients, including many of those mentioned in the category on Corporate Real Estate and Workplace Management

Innovations by Communities/Economic Development Organizations

The focus here is on innovative practices being applied by communities and economic development organizations to attract and retain corporate jobs and investment within the context of todays knowledge-based economy. Examples include how the community or organization is using the web and other technologies to:

• Create the leadership, alignment, and resources necessary to achieve its vision for the future
• Market and position the community in a global economy
• Leverage its unique competencies and ensure that the people of the community have the right skills and education to compete
• Provide an appropriate infrastructure to support corporations and knowledge workers in an e-business world
• Revitalize urban communities and attract the interest of corporations or government entities

Innovations by New Players In Corporate Real Estate

This category has been set aside to recognize some of the innovative practices and ideas that are being developed and applied by new entrants into the corporate real estate industry that do not necessarily fit into the more traditional categories mentioned above. The focus here is on how new entrants are using the web and other technologies to create and deliver value in new ways to respond to the needs and expectations of stakeholders in the New Economy, such as:

• Better information
• More efficient markets
• Faster solutions
• New and different solutions
• Evaluation Process and Criteria

Members of IDRC and The IDRC Foundation Board will review all nominations. This will be done through a two-stage process. In Phase I, a committee will screen all nominations. Finalists from this process will proceed to Phase II and make presentations before a panel of judges comprising senior corporate real estate executives, senior government officials, selected scholars from leading universities and highly successful and innovative business leaders. Those presentations will be held in August at Harvard University.

Nominations will be evaluated based on the following four criteria:

• Creativity and innovation
• How it created value for the organization, community or agency and magnitude of benefit
• Lessons learned or guidelines for others
• Quality and clarity of the nomination itself

Guidelines and Deadline For Submission