Knowledge-based Urban Development Research Articles

Analysis of a city-region from the knowledge perspective: Tampere, Finland

Purpose – The paper aims to evaluate the knowledge-based urban development (KBUD) dynamics of a rapidly emerging knowledge city-region, Tampere region, Finland. Design/methodology/approach – The paper empirically investigates Tampere region’s development achievements and progress from the knowledge perspective. Findings – The research, through qualitative and quantitative analyses, reveals the regional development strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Tampere region. Originality/value – The paper provides useful suggestions based on the lessons learned from the Tampere case investigation that could shed light on the KBUD journey of city-regions.

Position paper: Benchmarking the performance of global and emerging knowledge cities

Knowledge-based development has become a new urban policy approach for the competitive cities of the global knowledge economy era. For those cities seeking a knowledge-based development, benchmarking is an essential prerequisite for informed and strategic vision and policy making to achieve a prosperous development. Nevertheless, benchmarked knowledge-based development performance analysis of global and emerging knowledge cities is an understudied area. This paper aims to contribute to the field by introducing the methodology of a novel performance assessment model—that is the Knowledge-Based Urban Development Assessment Model—and providing lessons from the application of the model in an international knowledge city performance analysis study. The assessment model puts renowned global and emerging knowledge cities—that are Birmingham, Boston, Brisbane, Helsinki, Istanbul, Manchester, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto, and Vancouver—under the knowledge-based development microscope. The results of the analysis provide internationally benchmarked snapshot of the degree of achievements in various knowledge-based urban development performance areas of the investigated knowledge cities, and reveals insightful lessons on scrutinizing the global perspectives on knowledge-based development of cities.

Regional evolution and waves of growth: A knowledge-based perspective

The evolution of a regional economy and its competitiveness capacity may involve multiple independent trajectories through which different sets of resources and capabilities evolve together. However, there is a dearth of evidence concerning how these trends are occurring across the globe. Based on the underlying tenets of the streams of research relating to regional competitiveness, knowledge cities/regions, and knowledge-based urban development, this paper seeks to present an empirical approach to establishing such evidence in relation to the recent development of the globe’s most productive regions from the viewpoint of their growth trajectories and the particular form of growth they are experiencing. The aim is to uncover the underlying structure of the changes in knowledge-based resources, capabilities and outputs across regions, and offer an analysis of these regions according to an uncovered set of key trends. The analysis identifies three key trends by which the economic evolution and growth patterns of these regions are differentiated – namely Fifth Wave Growth, Third & Fourth Wave Growth, and Government-led Third Wave Growth. Overall, spectacular knowledge-based growth of leading Chinese regions is evident, highlighting a continued shift of knowledge-based resources to Asia. In addition, a superstructure is observed at the global scale, consisting of two separate continuums that explicitly distinguish Chinese regions from the rest in terms of regional growth trajectories.

Knowledge patterns and spatial dynamics of industrial districts in knowledge cities: Hsinchu, Taiwan

In the era of a global knowledge economy, urban regions that seek to increase their competitive edge and become destinations for talent and investment have little chance of achieving these goals without forming effective knowledge-based urban development strategies. Hence, the development of clusters of knowledge-based corporations has become an important strategic factor in increasing the competitiveness of knowledge cities. Whereas previous studies have tended to focus on the characteristics of local clusters and the causes of their success, empirical studies of the long-term development of local knowledge-based industries are few. Accordingly, this investigation takes the knowledge city region-Hsinchu as its subject, and quantitatively analyzes the correlation between the spatial dynamics of knowledge in major industries and innovation based on empirical data. This finding shows that steadily developing industries in the Hsinchu region have continued to strengthen their new knowledge of product development and innovation. An overview of innovative activities of firms also revealed that their knowledge patterns have been changing from patterns of internal dependency to a locality-based, broader networking and agglomeration pattern.

Reframing the Role of Knowledge Parks and Science Cities in Knowledge-Based Urban Development

Knowledge-based urban developments (KBUDs) are an increasingly common element of urban planning and strategy making: policy makers and developers set out to stimulate economic prosperity by promoting the integration and concentration of research, technology, and human capital. But KBUD is, by its advocates' own admission, a fuzzy concept, assuming that local physical development will drive urban upgrading within wider innovative production networks. We seek to address one element of this confusion by exploring how physical developments actively create innovative connections between local actors, drawing on the microscale science park and incubator literature. Using the case of one knowledge precinct, Kennispark in the east of the Netherlands, we investigate how active and passive elements of KBUDs drive integration of knowledge infrastructure in the urban fabric, as a prerequisite to building cross-city connections. On the basis of both qualitative and quantitative data, we conclude that there is a dynamic interrelation of proximity and connectivity within the precinct that contributes to building within-city knowledge communities that may in turn lead to improved cross-city connectivity and hence urban upgrading.

Innovating urban policymaking and planning mechanisms to deliver knowledge-based agendas: a methodological approach

This paper aims to develop a comprehensive approach to innovate urban policymaking and planning to successfully deliver the knowledge-based agenda. The paper, first, examines the concept of knowledge-based urban development, which has become a popular urban development policy and strategy in recent years, through a comprehensive review of the literature. It, then, introduces and discusses a novel methodological approach for effective policymaking and planning mechanism to deliver the knowledge-based agenda of cities. The paper, with the proposed methodology, brings together urban policymaking and planning approaches, and introduces a novel way to assess knowledge-based urban development achievements and potentials of emerging and prosperous knowledge cities. The paper, thus, provides an invaluable instrument to inform local and regional decision and plan making mechanisms to deliver their knowledge-based agendas and help them in moving towards building their sustainable knowledge cities.

Moving Esfahan toward knowledge-based urban development: the role of knowledge workers' needs

In the global knowledge economy, knowledge workers are extensively seen as the primary factors to improve the welfare and competitiveness of cities. To attract and retain such industries and workers, cities produce knowledge-based urban development strategies, and therefore such strategising has become an important development mechanism for cities and their economies. This paper aims to contribute to ongoing knowledge-based urban development (KBUD) and KBUD-related discussions that has become more popular in the academic and professional literature around the world, but not yet in Iran. The specific focus of the study is therefore on ‘the ways of attracting and retaining knowledge and innovative workers in the knowledge economy by addressing their needs and desires in the contemporary urban context’. It surveys the potentials and constraints of Esfahan to become a knowledge city. The methodology develops a comprehensive investigation and searches for useful ideas for formulating better urban planning theory in knowledge era. This paper provides an in-depth discussion on the role of urban planning for providing a suitable urban space in cities for attracting knowledge workers during which it has revealed some guiding principles that definitely open a new horizon for developing the theory and practice of knowledge-based urban development.

Managing creative industries in the context of knowledge-based urban development

The advent of the knowledge economy has put the focus on innovation, creativity and networks as drivers of competitiveness and economic growth. This has shifted development perspectives from tangibles-based competitiveness to knowledge-driven competitiveness transforming the way the economy is organised and putting emphasis on the emergence of a new type of capital. Creative industries represent a form of capital that provides economic benefits and the links between creative capital, quality of life and competitiveness has made the creative industries a serious economic factor that needs to be considered in regard to cities and regions viability. The two issues, creative industries and knowledge-based urban development (KBUD) remain not only challenging fields of research but also the key elements for discussions on the competitiveness of cities and regions. The purpose of this paper is to explore the ‘creative industry’ concept to relate it to the ongoing process of creating knowledge-based urban developments.

Places for knowledge-based activities in the African medieval knowledge city of Timbuktu

Efficient and effective use of urban places is among the secrets of creating a holistic knowledge city. This seems to be a key lesson for African cities seeking to transform themselves into knowledge cities. However, the dominant geographies of knowledge-based urban development research and policy in recent years have strong bias on developed and emerging countries together with a focus on the application of information and computing technologies (ICT) as a tool for future development. Furthermore, they have largely focused on the development of a section of the city such as knowledge precincts, business incubators; science and technology parks and knowledge-hubs. This paper asserts that far from being the so-called ‘dark continent’ Africa’s scientific and literary accomplishments were far ahead of most of the other continents at the medieval time and may have some lessons for contemporary societies. Focusing on Timbuktu, ‘the city of knowledge’, an attempt is made to define and distinguish Timbuktu’s gradual development approach from the current quick-fix global approach to knowledge city creation. After discussing the methodology used in the research, the paper identifies the city’s important places for knowledge development activities that were the key to its extraordinary achievements. Then it draws up lessons that could prove invaluable for the emerging African countries that seek to use knowledge city as a tool to guide their future development.

Benchmarking knowledge-based urban development performance: Results from the international comparison of Helsinki

In the era of a global knowledge economy, urban regions that seek to increase their competitive edge, become destinations for talent and investment and provide prosperity and high quality of life to their inhabitants have little chance of achieving these goals without forming effective knowledge-based urban development strategies. The research reported in this paper aims to address the questions of how a knowledge-based urban development performance measurement can be undertaken and the value contribution of such measurement. The paper focuses on the city of Helsinki. This empirical study analytically investigates Helsinki’s performance from the lens of knowledge-based urban development by comparing this urban region with eight international competitors, Boston, San Francisco, Birmingham, Manchester, Melbourne, Sydney, Toronto, and Vancouver. The results of the study not only reveal a clearer understanding of Helsinki’s benchmarked performance and competitive edge considering the regional policy context along with strategic directions in strengthening its international standing and competitiveness but also provide useful insights for other urban regions that aspire to such development.

Towards a comprehensive and integrated knowledge-based urban development model: status quo and directions

Incorporating knowledge-based urban development (KBUD) strategies in the urban planning and development process is a complex task due to the fragmented and incoherent existing KBUD models. This paper scrutinises and compares these KBUD models with an aim of identifying key and common features that help in developing a new comprehensive and integrated KBUD model. A thorough literature review reveals that while these models are invaluable and useful in some cases, the lack of a comprehensive perspective and absence of full integration of all necessary development domains render them incomplete as a generic model. The proposed KBUD model considers all central elements of urban development and sets an effective platform for planners and developers to achieve more holistic development outcomes. The proposed model, when developed further, has a high potential to support researchers, practitioners and particularly city administrators that are aiming for a knowledge-based development.

The 'Science City' as a System Coupler in Fragmented Strategic Urban Environments?

This paper explores the rise of 'urban science' in the context of contemporary discourses of strategic urban management. 'Urban science' – developing precincts to stimulate knowledge-based development – is founded on an assumption that the positive-sum nature of projects means that all partners share a common set of interests in the projects, and that these interests are around promoting knowledge-based urban development (KBUD). This paper explores this simplification in order to develop a more robust understanding of the role of knowledge-based urban development processes and discourses in contemporary urban governance. Through a reflection on a notionally successful case study from the east of the Netherlands, the paper explores how one particular urban science project led to the development of strategic urban capacity; partners were able to agree to pool funding towards collective regional economic development policy in a way that had not been possible a decade previously. The paper explores the way the urban science project held these diverse interests together, and highlights that much of urban science as a set of practices is embedded as much in traditional modes of territorial development as in attempts to stimulate KBUD. The paper finishes with an argument that more systematic consideration of the relation of KBUD discourses to more traditional territorial development processes is necessary for proper examination of these emerging economic development discourses and paradigms.

Moving Towards a Knowledge City?

In the global knowledge economy, knowledge-intensive industries and knowledge workers are extensively seen as the primary factors to improve the welfare and competitiveness of cities. To attract and retain such industries and workers, cities produce knowledge-based urban development strategies, where such strategising is an important development mechanism for cities and their economies. This paper investigates knowledge-based urban development strategies of Brisbane, Australia that support generation, attraction, and retention of investment and talent. The paper puts forward a clear understanding on the policy frameworks, and relevant applications of Brisbane’s knowledge-based urban development experience in becoming a prosperous knowledge city, and concludes by providing invaluable insights and directions for other cities seeking knowledge-based urban development.

Knowledge-based urban development of Multimedia Super Corridor, Malaysia: an overview

In recent years, with the impact of the global knowledge economy, a more comprehensive urban development approach, so called ‘knowledge-based urban development’, has gained significant popularity. This paper discusses the critical connections among knowledge-based urban development strategies, knowledge-intensive industries and information and communication technology infrastructures. In particular, the research focuses on investigating the application of the knowledge-based urban development concept by discussing one of South East Asia’s large scale knowledge-based urban development manifestations of Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor. The paper scrutinises Malaysia’s experience in the development and evolution of the Multimedia Super Corridor from the angle of knowledge-based urban development policy implementation, infrastructural implications, and actors involved in its development and management. This paper provides a number of lessons learned from the Multimedia Super Corridor on the orchestration of knowledge-based urban development that is a necessity for cities seeking successful knowledge city and knowledge economy transformations.

Position paper: redefining knowledge-based urban development

The concept of knowledge-based urban development has first come to the urban planning and development agenda during the very last years of the 20th century as a promising paradigm to support the transformation process of cities into knowledge cities and their societies into knowledge societies. However, soon after the exponentially rapid advancements experienced, during the first decade of the 21st century, particularly in the domains of economy, society, management and technology along with the severe impacts of climate change, have made the redefinition of the term a necessity. This paper, first, reports the findings of the review of the relatively short but dynamic history of urbanisation experiences of our cities around the globe. The paper, then, focuses on the 21st century urbanisation context and discusses the conceptual base of the knowledge-based development of cities and how this concept found application ground in many parts of the world. Following this, the paper speculates development of futu...

Measuring competitiveness of cities: Turkish experience

As cities were becoming the centre of economic production, people migrated to cities in the developed world in the 20th century. Globalisation initiated a new trend for cities in the 21st century. Increasing effect of neoliberal policies after the 80s caused significant changes of cities approach to their domestic economic production capabilities. Today, cities are competing for attracting people who have skill and investment capability as well as other resources. Leaders of the cities are working to make their cities more competitive among their rivals whereas the leaders of the countries are working for making the cities of their country more competitive. While doing this, successful leaders use knowledge-based urban development tools. Therefore, the studies providing knowledge regarding to comparison of cities are finding application area. In this study, the development process of City Competitiveness Index (CCI) of Turkey was discussed. The analysis of the project showed that CCI was helpful mostly for investors and policy makers as well as local decision-makers. Especially, policy makers had a very useful tool for making knowledge-based decisions for Turkish cities.

Delft blues: the long road from university town to knowledge city

Besides their teaching and research tasks, universities are increasingly expected to valorise knowledge into innovation. This involves new products, but also transdisciplinary knowledge exchange with people, technologies, firms and markets. This relates to knowledge-based urban development through a variety of locally-specific variables and features. This paper discusses the role of knowledge capacity in the development of the Dutch City of Delft. It emphasises the role of Delft University of Technology as a main player of Delft’s knowledge capacity, the qualities of the local production and consumption milieus and the role of local knowledge city policy. It explores the role and impact of knowledge capacity in urban development in a setting with mixed advantageous and disadvantageous qualities. The results suggest that the reason for the disappointing employment creation in Delft may be found particularly in the triple helix cooperation between government, knowledge institutions and industry.

Knowledge-based urban development paradigm: Doha asa model for a knowledge and creative city in the Middle East

Abstract Qatar's future vision, named Qatar 2030, is forecasting an economy based on knowledge and creativity rather than depletable natural carbon resources. Knowledge and creativity are perhaps the most important factors in the future of a city's economy, and there is a growing interest in the concept of the “knowledge and creative city”. A knowledge and creative city is not just a regular city. It is a growing space of exchange and optimism in which each and everyone can devote themselves to personal and collective projects and aspirations in a climate of dynamism, harmony, and creativity. The main purpose of this research is to explore the ‘knowledge city’ concept in depth. It will discuss the principles of a knowledge city, and portray its distinguishing characteristics and processes. A solid argument will be constructed to illustrate that the concept of knowledge cities is rooted in the urban, cultural structure of traditional Arab cities. Therefore an attempt to foster this concept in today's Arab/Middle Eastern cities would not be possible by building isolated technological statements scattered around the city. Alternatively, the rise of the network society, global networks, linked cities and the existence of smart communities should construct the basis for shaping Arab Knowledge Cities. A focus on Doha as an emerging knowledge and creative city amid the Middle Eastern cities will be included to examine the main hypothesis of the research. ‘What are the qualities of future cities?’ becomes a crucial question and its answer creates a challenge for architects, urban designers, planners, developers, and decision makers around the world. This research will answer this question by articulating a new matrix for knowledge and creative city formation. Doha will be used as a model for such a new paradigm of knowledge-based urban design and development in the Middle East. The Middle Eastern cities are not only exceptions, but would require major social transformations to join the knowledge economy era.

Making Space and Place for the Knowledge Economy: Knowledge-based Development of Australian Cities

The impact of what has been broadly labelled the knowledge economy has been such that, even in the absence of precise measurement, it is the undoubted dynamo of today's global market and an essential part of any global city. The socio-economic importance of knowledge production in a knowledge economy is clear, and it is an emerging social phenomenon and research agenda in geographical studies. Knowledge production, and where, how and by whom it is produced, is an urban phenomenon that is poorly understood in an era of strong urbanization. This paper focuses on knowledge community precincts as the catalytic magnet infrastructures impacting on knowledge production in cities. The paper discusses the increasing importance of knowledge-based urban development (KBUD) within the paradigm of the knowledge economy and the role of knowledge community precincts as instruments to seed the foundation of knowledge production in cities. This paper explores the KBUD, and particularly knowledge community precinct development, potentials of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and benchmarks this against that of Boston, MA.

Spaces of knowledge creation: tracing 'knowing in action' in jury-based decision-making processes in Switzerland

In this article we analyse how knowledge is generated in the design field of knowledge-based urban development (KBUD). Planners and urban designers, governments on various levels, or construction industry are dealing with complex urban realities in which places, discourses, but also specific spatio-temporal dynamics of economic, juridical and political systems come together. We approach the issue of planning by studying decision-making within juries of design competitions. Here knowledge is produced between actors from different professional and economic backgrounds, between global discourses and local specificities. In order to trace how knowledge creation takes place in decision-making – between various and heterogeneous types of knowledge, between global tendencies for innovation and local prerequisites and settings – we apply Amin and Roberts' concept of 'knowing in action'. We will elaborate on this model using ethnographic data on the work of a jury board in a design competition. As a result we prop...