Valencia, July 14, 2025.— Econcult is pleased to announce the public defense of the researcher's doctoral thesis Ying Wang, whose close connection with our research group dates back to 2015. The event will take place on Friday, July 18 at 1:00 p.m. in the Pilar Tamborero Room of the Faculty of Economics (Av. dels Tarongers, s/n, Valencia). Admission is free until capacity is full.

PhD candidate Ying Wang is an expert in activation and development projects urban facilities linked to culture A graduate in Sociology, she lived in Valencia for over two years, collaborating closely with Econcult. After the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, she had to return to China, although she continued to actively participate in our research.

Her doctoral thesis, directed by Pau Rausell Köster and Vicente Coll Serrano, is titled:
“Creating Cultural Spaces under Social Innovation in Contemporary China: Case Studies in Kunming City” In it, Wang analyzes three cases of urban regeneration driven by cultural enterprises in the city of Kunming, integrating a mixed methodological approach that combines semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and user surveys. Through this work, the author connects the theories of social innovation and space production, showing how old, run-down buildings are transformed into dynamic spaces for citizen participation, sustainability, and collective creation.

One of the highlights of her career with Econcult was his key role in the project EURASIAN CREASPACE NETWORK, funded by the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF)This project promoted the exchange of experiences and models of cultural facilities between Asia and Europe, and Ying Wang was one of its most active coordinators.

Among the main findings of the thesis, the identification of hybrid models of cultural governance capable of articulating public policies, market dynamics and social demands. The study also highlights the strategic role that cultural companies play in the revitalization of the urban fabric contemporary.

From Econcult, we invite faculty, students, and professionals from the cultural, urban, and academic fields to attend this event, which celebrates not only the culmination of rigorous academic work but also a collaborative relationship that has lasted nearly a decade.

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