The International Metropolis Project is a forum for bridging research, policy and practice on migration and diversity. The Project aims to enhance academic research capacity, encourage policy-relevant research on migration and diversity issues, and facilitate the use of that research by governments and non-governmental organizations. In the decade since its inception, the Project has grown to include researchers, policy-makers, international organizations and NGOs from North America, most of Europe and much of the Asia-Pacific region.

The Project is managed by a Secretariat, which is jointly located in Ottawa and Amsterdam. It is also guided by an International Steering Committee made up of approximately 40 partners from across the Project, who provide advice, direction and an international perspective.The Project is perhaps best-known for its International Conferences, which are the largest annual gathering of experts in the fields of migration and diversity. Each Conference attracts upwards of 750 delegates for high-level plenary sessions, a comprehensive study tour program, and more than 60 concurrent workshops.

The Conferences are an opportunity for delegates – both expert and novice – to discuss critical issues, identify research and policy gaps, compare international experiences, and build the Metropolis network. Conferences have been held in Milan, Copenhagen, Zichron Yaacov, Washington, Vancouver, Rotterdam, Oslo, Vienna, Geneva and Toronto with future conferences planned in Lisbon and Melbourne. A competitive process has been developed to guide the selection of host cities.

Between Conferences, the Metropolis network is brought together through shared research projects, publications and informal policy discussion; smaller Inter-Conference Seminars; a website that highlights research and upcoming activities; the Journal of International Migration and Integration, which showcases international research on migration and diversity; and an annual publication – the World Bulletin – which updates the network on partners’ various projects and activities.

The success of the Project is largely a result of these regular interactions, which facilitate collaboration and comparative projects. An excellent example of this collaboration is the PME-Metropolis Research Initiative which provides funding to international research teams for the development of research proposals on migration and diversity. Other organizations have looked to the International Metropolis Project as a model and have used the relationships formed through Metropolis to assist them in launching their own research projects and networks.