( )Creative cities The role of knowing communities in Montreal

idCampus

Emilie Pawlak - Colloque SPI+ - 13 et 14 Novembre 2011

( )Economic context

⊛ The creative economy is based on a new developmental paradigm that links business, culture, Arts and technology (UN Report, 2008)

⊛ New sources of value creation lie at the interface between creativity, culture and economics

⊛ Creative capital: complex to define because various dimensions, no direct link between creative endeavor and economic outcomes => result from the interplay of social, cultural and institutional capital

⊛ The collaboration curve surpassed the experience curve

⊛ Agglomeration economies stem from diversity - there is an advantage to produce something distinctive linked to local specificities (Gertler, 2004)

⊛ Creativity and innovation: situated phenomenon (time and place)

( )Creative cities: some characteristics

⊛ Ability to attract specific skills and not only human capital in general (“creative class”) (Florida, 2000)

⊛ Different from a cluster of economic activities (Scott, 2006)

⊛ dense networks of specialized producers vertically disintegrated that offer many options to combine and generate innovation ideas, rules, products services...

⊛ Labor market developed around groups of interrelated firms, project-oriented activities favor cross fertilization and diversification of competencies for workers

⊛ Creative field (urban and regional) "the locationally-differentiated web of production activities and associated social relationships that shapes geographic patterns of entrepreneurship and innovation in the new economy."(Scott)

⊛ Absorptive capacities (Cohen & Levinthal, 1990); creativity and innovation in cities enable to create knowledge but also to develop a capacity to learn from external sources

⊛ Different from cultural cities: firms, communities and individuals that can create new combinations, new rules...

( )Creativity in cities: Dynamics

⊛ Innovation and creative intensity rely on a locally embedded dynamic process embracing knowledge, creation, innovation and markets.

⊛ Individual and communities’ creative activities (cultural, technological, artistic...) nourish innovation conducted in organizations

⊛ Innovative ideas, best practices developed and brought to market by organizations (firms, universities...) can be transformed, exploited, reinterpreted by knowing and creative communities

Knowledge Creativity Innovation

S&TUsers

IndividualsMicroCommunities

Networks Communities

Projects Organizations

UsersSociety Diversity and heterogeneity Standardization Markets

Context Openness Appropriation (IP)

()

MontrealArts-Culture and Technology Connections

Overall Creativity Index

Overall Technology

Ranking

Overall Talent

Ranking

Overall Tolerance Ranking

1 -Seattle 1 4 1

2 -Boston 5 1 4

3 - Vancouver 3 5 3

4 - Montreal 7 8 1

5 - Los Angeles 2 7 6

6 - New York 10 2 7

( )Montreal:Diversified Ecology of Knowledge

⊛ Industrial Clusters: Aeronautic, Biotech, IT (large firms and numerous SMEs)

⊛Creative industries: video games, advertising, performing Arts, filmmaking, fashion

⊛Developed Local science system (major universities, +200 R&D centers...)

⊛developed artistic underground

How do these actors connect, learn and interact?

( )Places and spaces

⊛ Thematic districts and places have been created to support exchange and cross fertilization.

⊛ La Tohu: place for circus arts training, creation, production and performance; National Circus School; founded by CdS

⊛ SAT (Society for Arts and Technology): transdisciplinary center dedicated to research and creation, production, education, and the dissemination of digital culture. Located in the Quartier des Spectacles

⊛ e-commerce Place: building led by IBM and welcoming technology-driven businesses

⊛ House of Jazz Festival: concert venue, restaurant, jazz resource center and cinematheque

⊛ INGO innovation center: incubation and R&D center for high tech companies located in the innovation district close to Tech School and McGill University

( )Project and events

⊛Montreal, City of Festivals: Jazz, Humor, Circus, International Film, Fashion Week, etc

⊛Montreal Mode (fashion map, sustainable style)

⊛Culture Montreal: research, analysis and communication activities.

⊛Montreal UNESCO City of design (5th year)

⊛ 1st Canada-EU Collaboration Forum (may 2011)

( )⊛Montreal as a diversified ecology of knowledge

⊛Numerous Relational Spaces have been created to foster innovation and cross fertilization (urbanism and interaction places

⊛Things happen! In Montreal, numerous projects and events

⊛ favor a good circulation of knowledge and ideas; bring diversity and

⊛ contribute to City branding and promotion

⊛Knowing communities (CoP, epistemic communities, artistic communities...) as active units and channels for creation and innovation

⊛ Strong public leadership: local and regional authorities have played a central role in the emergence of Montreal and Barcelona as major creative cities

Beyond traditional (locational) success factors