Innovation and Creativity

DOCUMENTS

URBACT Results Brochure  Read more
URBACT Tribune 2011 dedicated to Local Support Groups  Read more
Final Publication - URBACT Cities facing the Crisis - Impact and Responses  Read more
The URBACT Tribune 2010  Read more
Bringing down the city walls: new 'open innovation' for new open cities  Read more
Towards innovative public procurement  Read more
Urban knowledge economies affected by the crisis?  Read more
How cities can harness the capabilities of universities in a period of economic uncertainty  Read more
Synthesis of Baseline Studies of the URBACT projects exploring innovation and creativity in cities  Read more

Innovation and Creativity



The economic crisis has made at least one thing clear. This is that over-dependence on large traditional industries, and low productivity, low wage sectors is an immense risk in a globalised economy.

In the past, economic sectors have come and gone, bringing first prosperity then wreaking havoc on cities and their inhabitants. It is in this context, the European Commission recognises that stimulating the innovative and creative capacity of all its citizens is ultimately the bedrock for a more sustainable future. After making 2009, the European Year of Innovation of Creativity, the Commission argues that "growth based on knowledge and innovation" should be one of the three main priorities for the strategy for "Europe 2020" To back this up, the EU Commissioners for innovation and industry has produced a "flagship" initiative "the innovation union". 

The strength of URBACT networks working in this field lies precisely in the fact that they are at the forefront of practical experiments to see how cities can turn these fine words into reality in quite different context.

REDIS, led by Magdeberg, is exploring how cities can integrate science and technology into the heart of their urban fabric rather than creating “gated” out-of-centre science parks. RuNup, led by Gateshead, is examining how small and medium sized cities – often without a strong university - can enter what has traditionally been seen to the exclusive preserve of the champions league of large metropolis.

Similarly, the Fast Track network UNIC, led by Limoges, is investigating how a previous dependence on a traditional sector like ceramics, rather than being a burden, can be turned into a lever for opening up new “paths of innovation”. Creative Clusters, led by Obidos, is testing how quite small cities with a rural hinterland, can generate a dynamic creative environment and creative industries.

Many other networks also have important things to say in this area. For example, Urban N.O.S.E on how to create jobs which deal with social needs via the social economy, WEED on how women can play a vital role in the knowledge economy, OPEN Cities on how to make the most of the skills and talent that can be brought by migration.

You can read more about each of these projects by clicking on the links in the text above and reading the articles and papers below.

To understand more about the aims and methods being used by the URBACT projects working on innovation and creativity read the synthesis of their baselines studies.

The 2010 Annual URBACT Conference also held a workshop on Cities and Open Innovation.

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1. What's happening
2. URBACT ARTICLES on Cities – Innovation and Creativity
3. URBACT REPORTS and other outputs on Cities – Innovation and Creativity
4. URBACT EVENTS on Cities – Innovation and Creativity
5. Other EVENTS on Cities – Innovation and Creativity
6. Useful LINKS for Cities working on Innovation and Creativity

  
 
1. What's happening 

creatiAs the recession deepens, there is growing pressure to find a counterweight to the impact of austerity measures on growth and jobs. "Social innovation is increasingly being mentioned in EU cities as one of the answers. At the end of January, President Barroso of the European Commission, unveiled the first prototype of a foldable electric vehicle "Hiriko" "as an answer to the crisis".

Cities clearly play a vital role in this kind of innovation. The chairman of Hiriko, Jesus Echave argued that the new electric vehicle "is an example of social innovation that contributes to changing cities and their habits as far as sustainable mobility is concerned because the first clients will be institutions, municipalities and public services which will use them as fleets in their respective cities. "But cities and regional governments are not just customers - they also play an important part in the development of social innovations. The groundbreaking Basque social innovation park has played a role in development and prototypes will be tested in cities like Vitoria (Green Capital of Europe) and possibly Mälmo.



2. URBACT ARTICLES on Cities – Innovation and Creativity

An article by Creative Clusters lead expert that draws attention to the potential role of creative industries in building the new post-crisis economic landscape, and how this is promoting a re-view of local development strategies in most innovative cities. It argues for a "new cluster reading" of the local economy, strategies for attracting and retaining creative entrepreneurs, the creation of new urban working environments,  the use of events as catalysts for local development,  and building more creative educational environments. It is a good summary to the URBACT Creative Clusters project.

This article looks at how the concept of "open innovation" can help medium and small sized cities to become strong players in the knowledge economy. It argues that these cities have an important role to play in opening up the traditional top down research driven models, followed by many universities,  to the real needs of local firms. It provides two practical examples, one from the city of Tampere, Finland, and another from Coventry, England of how cities can use open innovation as a "tool for economic development".

In this article Eurico Neves, UNIC Lead Expert explicitly makes the links between the  creative potential unleashed by bring different stakeholders together in  Urbact Local Support Groups  and the broader concept of stakeholder involvement in open innovation processes. He does this by providing concrete examples of how the local support groups have worked in the different cities involved in the UNIC Thematic Network. 

This article uses examples from the UNIC project to show how cities which have been heavily associated with certain traditional industries like ceramics are already exploring solutions in the fields of "smart, green and inclusive growth". The author argues that cities need to focus on two dimensions: firstly, their capacity to generate and spread new knowledge internally and secondly, their capacity to act as a "hub" or an "inclusive centre of attraction" of talent.

Cities all over Europe are developing "knowledge hotspots" - physical concentrations of knowledge intensive or creative activity. Increasingly such hotspots are being developed inside the city rather than at suburban Greenfield sites. This article looks at how cities can avoid these areas becoming elitist "ivory towers" and how they can integrate them economically, socially and physically into the urban fabric.

This article looks at both the impact and the response of the crisis on four cities with long term development strategies based heavily on creating the conditions for creativity and the construction of "creative clusters". According to the author, the crisis points to the need for more financial devolution to cities. At the same time, cities need to embark on a new round of strategic planning, using the cluster approach to "rethink" the local economy and the nature of urban industrial space after the crisis. 

This is the first piece of work by URBACT to scope the potential role of cities in the emerging trend towards "open" innovation. The article starts by defining open innovation and then describes a series of fields in which cities can put open innovation in motion: by creating interconnected spaces which function as "living labs", by attracting talent and skills, by creating the technological infrastructure and by investing across boundaries. It also provides two practical illustrations of how cities can be involved. 

Traditionally innovation has been seen as a linear process starting with research and development in universities which is then "spun out" to small creative start-ups - which in turn blossom into world players – very much along the lines of Silicon Valley. However, this model does not work for many small and medium sized cities, where there is often a gap between the research agenda of universities and the needs and capacity of local firms. This article analyses the various ways in which cities can start to overcome this gap which is particularly serious in a recession when there is an urgent need for cities to maintain their skill base.

When this article was written in mid 2009, urban science based projects led by the private sector were suffering most while those led by the public sector were holding up better. However, even then it was clear that there are differences between cities in countries which put a high priority on research and development and those where it is a secondary consideration. Despite the risks, this situation is forcing some cities to explore new ways of improving the links between the science establishment and the physical, economic and social fabric of cities. Precisely, the core topic of REDIS.

This article argues that cities are "trying to cut a piece of paper with just one blade of a pair of scissors" when they concentrate only on the research and development "push" side of innovation. In fact, cities can have a much bigger impact if they also tap the immense power of public procurement to stimulate the "pull" for innovation. The article provides examples and looks at the ways in which they can do this without falling foul of competition laws.

Until recently knowledge based and creative activities have been seen as the preserve of the "champion's league" of world class cities. However, the Creative Cluster URBACT project has set out to explore the conditions and strategies that can allow small and medium sized cities to participate in the creative economy. This article describes the key issues raised in their opening conference that will guide the rest of their work.

Many cities have been devastated when their traditional industries go into decline. Some try to completely reinvent themselves and switch into emerging sectors. However, competition is fierce in the areas of new growth.   UNIC starts from a different angle and tries to fuse place-based industrial heritage with state of the art business technology to design "innovation paths" that are adapted to the strengths and weaknesses of each city. This article describes main features of their approach as laid out at the launch of the second phase of their activities.


3. URBACT REPORTS and other outputs on Cities – Innovation and Creativity

  • Final Report. November 2011. Miguel Rivas, Lead Expert of Creative Clusters

A summary of the work carried out during the 3 years of project. The port describes the main objectives of the network, provides overview of the key findings from the transnational workshops, describes how Barnsley, one of the partner cities is applying their strategy; and draws conclusions from the LAPs of the other partner cities. 

Very often, both academic studies and public policy documents are centred on the reality of big cities and metropolises, excluding smaller communities from the creative economy movement or assuming that they can adopt creative metropolitan imaginaries. With that in mind, this report advocates the need to desing local, regional and European creative-based policies and financing instruments adapted to the specificities of small and medium-sized territorial areas, and not a "one size fits all" approach.

This is a well written and interesting conference report which ends with a summary of the main messages of the network. The methodology also stands out as the whole conference was organized in the form of a video game with different levels corresponding to the main components of what Creative Clusters have defined as the creative ecosystem. There are links to a series of useful presentations by some notable external speakers.  

This newsletter contains an interesting interview with the Mayor of Jyväskyla, a city which is drafting a local action plan around culture and wellness as well as a series of snapshots of interesting projects and events involving cities and creative industries.

An interesting comparison of the actions to foster creativity and innovation undertaken on the cities of Óbidos, Barnsley and Jyvaskyla. The report also provides overview of the socioeconomic and governance context in each of these 3 partner cities. 

  • The Creative Brief – Special Issue. September 2010. Creative Clusters' contribution to to the Public Consultation on the Green Paper "Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries". Creative Clusters.

This report argues that EU policy should take account of the specific role that cultural and creative industries can play in the regeneration of small and medium sized cities and their surrounding rural areas. It recommends that these cities should pay particular attention to two key policy instruments: the establishment of creative and learning spaces or environments and the identification and training of "creative brokers".

This important report argues that EU policy should take account of the specific role that cultural and creative industries can play in the regeneration of small and medium sized cities and their surrounding rural areas. It recommends that these cities should pay particular attention to two key policy instruments: the establishment of creative and learning spaces or environments and the identification and training of "creative brokers".

This is a brief but interesting report of a workshop held by Creative Clusters in Ploiesti-Mizil, Romania  which introduces the network and then provides a number of case studies and recommendations for using to cultural industries to diversify the economies of small and medium sized cities with a special emphasis on creating opportunities for young people.

This  report summarises the main finding of the study visit carried out by the network in July 2009 to the very forward looking finish city of Jyvaskyla. It provides and interesting review of the strategies, projects and innovation-related and cultural assets found in the city.  

This is a charter signed by fifteen mayors from six countries which lays out a series of conditions and recommendations for promoting creative industries in small and medium sized cities. 

This is the final output of the REDIS network and brings together the key conclusions of eight "implementation labs" held on the science districts of partner cities together with a considerable amount of background knowledge and several study visits to emblematic "knowledge hotspots" in Europe. The guide takes readers through the main steps in building a hotspot such as designing the concept, promotion, governance, city-university relationships and linking hotspots to the city. Each section includes examples and guidelines for cities.

This report provides an in depth analysis of an ambitious, €36 million EU funded project, led by the city of Bialystok to create a science and technology park on an accessible green field location at the edge of the city.  Over three days, two groups of 10-15 people, made up of local stakeholders and external partners examined the strengths and weaknesses of the project - coming up with concrete recommendations for improving the concept and business model and for urban planning.

This short report summarizes the findings obtained during a study visit by 8 cities to Aachen to learn about its new innovative campus based on clustering academic institutes and companies around multi‐disciplinary themes or shared challenges. It describes the vision, strategy and business model for the campus, its physical appearance and phasing; finally, it raises some questions, issues and themes for other cities.

This is another report of an "implementation lab" held in the German city of Halle (Saale). This time the "peer review" focuses on how the city could develop a creative district and/or cluster in an area close to the city centre with a number of existing creative institutions and opportunities. Once again the detailed examination of the case by partners and experts leads to a series of observations and recommendations which will be interesting for cities that face similar challenges.

This REDIS implementation laboratory report looks at the conditions for creating a totally new science district from scratch close to the Port of Piraeus, near Athens in Greece. It provides cities who would like to regenerate run-down areas through knowledge based activities with interesting insights on what to look out for and what to avoid.

This report looks at how a city can develop an out of centre science park in a way that supports the diversification of its existing industry and integrates as far as possible with the fabric of the city. It is based upon an implementation lab held on the city of Manresa's ongoing project for "Parc Central" the show piece of its knowledge quarter.

This is the report of one of the REDIS network's Implementation Labs in Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city. The "IT City of Katrinebjerg" provides an excellent model of universit –business collaboration and is active in user involvement in innovation. The implementation lab highlights both the strengths and the weaknesses of the cities efforts to integrate this science district into the city.

Using Newcastle's Science Central Plan as an illustration, it argues that community involvement in science districts needs to go beyond the traditional approach of informing and consulting on the masterplan. It provides suggestions on how this could improve the diffusion of socially relevant innovations and reduce the risk of creating elitist enclaves, cut off from the rest of the city.

In the 1970's and 1980's many European cities developed science and technology parks in separate suburban locations which almost became "gated communities". However, experience has shown that this approach not only creates a potentially harmful physical divide but it also fails to build the kind of diverse, interactive environment that is conducive for innovation and the diffusion of scientific research. This brief report provides examples of instruments and tools that municipalities can use to break down the ivory towers which separate science and technology from city life.

This final report argues that if small and medium sized cities are to be successful in the knowledge economy they need to develop a greater understanding of the economic transformations taking place, the role of universities and local authorities in supporting economic clusters and competences and how to strengthen triple helix cooperation. It provides examples of how the partner cities propose to make progress in these fields through their local action plans. The report ends with some general conclusions and two annexes syntesising the study visits and events.

This report provides an interesting panorama of how a series of medium sized cities like Gateshead (UK), Solna (Sweden), Barakaldo and other Basque municipalities (Spain) are adapting their long term strategies to attract both the firms and talented people they will need in the future.

This is the third of a series of case studies carried out by the RUN UP network on outstanding examples of university involvement in the development of urban "poles" of entrepreneurship and economic development (after Coventry and Tampere). It provides very useful information for other cities of the various steps and programmes in three stages of Enschede's development: firstly, its journey from from textile to university city, next its transition from government intervention to knowledge intensive entrepreneurship and, finally, the evolution from entrepreneurial programmes to innovation platform and triple helix cooperation.  

Based on a study visit to the medium sized city of Tampere by the RUN UP project, this brief report analyses different roles that universities can play in urban development based on a four stage model. The economic crisis means that cities like Tampere are increasingly looking "beyond stage 4" towards "open" and user led innovation systems. This is precisely the priority for URBACT's work in 2010.

It is becoming increasingly clear that innovation within cities is not just a question of building scientific capacity or "knowledge push". It is also necessary to work on the demand for knowledge and the "absorptive" capacity of firms. This report takes the reader through the key lessons coming out of a conference in Potsdam held by the REDIS network on how to market knowledge and knowledge cities in a way that stimulate economic development

This report provides a very complete picture of how a city which used to be the centre of the UK car industry has turned itself round by using its universities to stimulate a new pole of economic development base around sectors like aerospace, specialist vehicles, digital and creative technologies, environmental technologies and others. 

This interesting publication maps the main local actions being proposed by the cities participating in UNIC in each of the five themes dealt with by the network in their transnational exchanges. It shows how the knowledge gained by the cities at a transnational level is being translated into concrete actions at local level.



4. Other EVENTS on Cities – Innovation and Creativity


- 7 February - Brussels. The Impact of the Crisis on Regional and Local Finances: any Role for the Next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF)?. Organised by The Committee of the Regions.

- 7 February - Brussels. Overview and future of inter-municipal cooperation in Europe. Organised in The Committee of the Regions by The Confederation of Towns and Municipalities of the European Union (CTME)

- 16 February - Brussels. URBAN FORUM. Organised by the European Commission. The forum will be divided into three thematic panels:

  • Tackling the challenges of coordinating thematic investment
  • Integrated territorial investments
  • New tools provided by the proposed regulations

- 20-21 March. Berlin. 8th Annual Meeting of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance.

- 22-23 March 2012. Copenhaguen. 5th Summit of Europe's Regions and Citizens. Organised by The Committee of the Regions.

- 1-4 July 2012. Singapore. World Cities Summit. This event is a global platform for government leaders and industry experts to address liveable and sustainable city challenges, share innovative urban projects and forge partnerships.  


6. Useful LINKS for Cities working on Innovation and Creativity.