In an article for Barcelona Global and La Vanguardia, the leading newspaper in Barcelona, Ramon Gras Alomà, Aretian Urban Analytics and Design cofounder and Harvard researcher, describes the process for the development of the masterplan for the new Innovation Districts of the Catalan cities of Badalona and Esplugues. In this article, he explains the strategic choices made in Boston around Innovation Districts, choices that ultimately foster the creation of high quality jobs. The high quality jobs then have a positive impact on the rest of the market by creating more support jobs, an effect that Aretian explored in depth in its research on the multiplier effects of innovation in the Atlas of Innovation Districts. The developments of Allston, Union Square and Kendall Square in the Boston Area provide good examples of novel urban developments centered around innovation. By creating new jobs centered around sustainable industries with high potential for future growth, these districts consolidate their future and the future of their inhabitants, as the rest of the urban environment benefits from the influx of capital, transportation and business.
Esplugues and Badalona are meant to become urban poles of economic sustainability and innovation, as they represent two prime candidates to host the new Catalan Innovation Districts that will contribute to strengthening the Catalan smart industry specialization. Each city presents all the necessary characteristics to create successful Innovation Districts; they present available urban areas that can be built, strong academic poles with active researchers, ambitious innovators and entrepreneurs, and strong industries that can be further consolidated and specialized. Aretian Urban Analytics and Design already identified several sectors and opportunities for synergies and linkages in both cities when developing its Masterplan. Badalona and Esplugues represent two fundamental pieces to advance the development of the fractal metropolis, where urbanism and economic growth are intertwined to create the best, most sustainable living experience for citizens.
You can read the article here: https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcelona/20240212/9516599/esplugues-badalona-nuevos-distritos-innovacion-amb.html
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