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Local economies have been the driving force behind city growth since the first cities were developed between the Tigris and Euphrates. Since then we have seen trading cities, port cities, industrial cities and service cities. Now many European cities are trying to re-position themselves in the global economy by becoming knowledge based and ‘smart’ cities.

 

Reinventing a city is difficult, and there are risks, including that cities follow a copy-and-paste approach that is not rooted in their own economy and society. Instead of smart specialisation we reproduce the stupid specialisation of the cluster years when every city and region in Europe proclaimed its desire to be in nanotechnology, medical or biotechnology and digital technologies.

Experience has shown that to move into knowledge based development requires a close relationship between a triple helix made up of research centres, small and medium-sized enterprises and city administrations. 

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Useful links

OECD LEED Programme (Local Economic and Employment Development)
http://www.oecd.org/employment/leed/
Eurocities Thematic Forum
http://www.eurocities.eu/eurocities/activities/forums/economy&tpl=home
EUKN
http://www.eukn.org/E_library
The smart cities
http://www.eu-smartcities.eu/
The European Network of Living Labs
http://www.openlivinglabs.eu/
Innovation Union EU
http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm

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Podcast digital city

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Events

February 2019

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Crash course in Crowdsourcing: lessons from Decide Madrid
URBACT will co-host an event with the City of Madrid as a part of its commitment to build cities’ capacity for civic participation
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621 documents Library
Open call for Action Planning networks - Webinar 2
07/02/2019
Open call for Action Planning networks - Webinar 1
07/02/2019
APN call leaflet (PL)
04/02/2019
Cēsis (LV) - Digital transition starts young
21/01/2019
Toruń (PL) - A social economy, designed by millenials
21/01/2019
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