This project's final report and evaluation was completed on 22 July 2019

Project approach

Building upon sister city relationships and those who have leveraged the connections into commercial opportunities this project undertook:

• Desktop action research on successful sister city relationships focused on economic development final 
• Report in January 2019  
• Conversations with key councils and partners delving into examples and sister city relationships with South Australian councils
  • hone in on the Adelaide - Austin relationship
  • as well as those sister city connections held by Western Adelaide councils.
• Development of a document outlining the matching between Adelaide and Austin based individuals and organisations
• Panel picker submission on this topic for SXSW 2020 and reaching out strategy to connect matches
• Report and matching document to be utilised by other councils
• Documentation of how sister cities emerged, current and potential value, examples of sister city relationships that are successful
• Key learning is that individuals, families and organisations need to be matched for cultural and business exchange
• Connections with Austin, TX and Adelaide, South Australia through SXSW with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and tech
• Identification of people and organisations that are or could be working more closely together between relevant sister cities
• Hosting of a local to international networking event in May 2019 with 100+ people attending
• Deeper understanding and relationships with sister cities for local government professionals including potential areas for collaboration and exchange via desk top action research
• Identification of councils/partners aligned to Adelaide and Austin relationship
• Knowledge dissemination of inbound and outbound delegations
• Exploring collaboration with Heart South Australia and Showcase SA  
• Sister city stories and international examples of successful outcomes
• Report on sister city relationships for economic development, international trade and business outcomes that can be used by councils with friendly and sister city relationships.

Project distribution

The project report will be disseminated via economic development leaders across South Australia and EDA SA as well as send directly to CEOs and Mayors.

With limited funds, the project scope was scaled back to focus on desktop research and facilitating potential connections from Adelaide to Austin. This was done with a key connection who has been on the sister city committee in Austin for many years. The introductions made are developing between specific people and organisations with feedback on the value of the connections, interest in SXSW and South Australian based events, as well as links between the cities and elected members.

The report and outputs can provide guidance and ideas for those councils that want to build upon their sister city relationships and take the economic development aspect to the next level.

Undertaken internally and in collaboration with Austin based connections.

An offer of funding has been accepted on 2 October 2018.