Ramon Gras Alomà was recently interviewed by the Barcelona Metropolitan Strategic Plan institution (Pla Estratègic Metropolità de Barcelona - PEMB) to explain the paramount role Innovation Districts play in the development of the cities and communities of the future. The Pla Estratègic Metropolità de Barcelona - PEMB is a private, non-profit association promoted by Barcelona City Council and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona and presided over by the president of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB). The PEMB is a government organization tasked with identifying near-term needs of the metropolitan area and foresee trends, threats and opportunities to facilitate innovation through strategic urban development to address any challenges the future may hold.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sxOqzQcVmc
During his interview, Ramon dissects the role that Innovation Districts have within cities based on their type, the best organizational strategies to foster innovation and the positive externalities they have on our communities. By creating sustainable economies, communities and cities, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona can have a comparative advantage that enables them to compete on the global market, regardless of their specialization. In this video, Ramon Gras describes how Barcelona, one of the most innovative cities in Europe, prepares for future challenges and can maintain its global presence as a leader by developing new Innovation Districts throughout the territory. He also discusses the contribution that Aretian’s Science of Cities methodology can make to ensure the successful development of such Districts.
Ramon Gras develops further on the Aretian methodology by explaining some key factors to spur growth within a knowledge economy. First, Aretian creates a Metropolitan Region Diagnostic to understand the territory as a complex system and informs urban design to shape a fractal metropolis. Secondly, Aretian aligns urban design with activity programming to strengthen the 3 networks of innovation. This alignment requires identifying key nodes for knowledge creation and designing a network of tech transfer to facilitate the translation of research advances into economic activity. The activity programming is also aligned with the identification of industries with a comparative advantage within the regional network of industries. Lastly, Ramon Gras explains the necessity of designing a network of Innovation Districts strategically located in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region and composed of the districts of Badalona i les Tres Xemeneies, Bon Pastor i la Sagrera, Diagonal Mar, Alta Diagonal, Hub d’Innovació Port-Aeroport, among others.
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