CSO2016-74888-C4-1-R

The aim of this project is to present development alternatives to the metropolitan crisis by contributing to the design of strategies aimed at the consolidation of sustainable and smart urban models that lead towards an innovative and inclusive society. For this purpose, a comparative perspective is taken, analysing relevant factor such as quality of life, sustainable mobility, the local governance system, human capital, innovative capacity and the formation of internal and external networks in some of the main Spanish metropolitan areas (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Zaragoza).

During its implementation, methodologies, analysis and tools for diagnosis and participatory decision-making have been developed, based mainly on the application of geographical information technologies and the use of new sources of information such as individualised registers and Big Dara, also using complementary techniques for qualitative analysis.

Regarding the diagnosis of vulnerable and excluded areas at local urban scales, the results of the project have made it possible to incorporate analysis variables that have been little studied such as biodiversity, accessibility to social equipments and to green urban spaces and the spatiotemporal constraints of individuals, from a multiscale and multitemporal perspective of relevant information. On the other hand, the use of new sources of information coming from social media has made it possible to analyse new dynamics of metropolitan mobility, capturing adequately its diversity and spatiotemporal variability.

In the third place, the international projection of cities and the effects that the economic crisis and subsequent recovery have produced on the position of Spanish metropolitan areas in the global urban hierarchy were studied. Finally, significant progress has been made on urban development models based on knowledge, innovation and creativity.  The comparative approach has allowed expanding the traditional focus of analysis in global cities, incorporating the study of the second step in Spanish cities, as well as describing the spatial dynamics of skilled employment and its potential rebalancing effects on the urban system. The main conclusions point towards the important role that innovative ecosystems and social innovation processes can play in this sense as elements generating innovative and resilient responses to crisis situations such as the previous international financial crisis or the current one linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• JOAN NOGUERA TUR,  Universitat de València.

• ANNE BRETAGNOLLE, Universidad Paris I Panthéon-SorbonNE

• NICOLAE POPA, Universitatea De Vest Din Timisoara (Rumania)

• MARIA JOSÉ MARZÁ BATALLER, Universitat de València

• JOSÉ JAVIER CUENCA CERVERA, Universitat de València

• MARIONA TOMÁS FORNÉS, Universitat De Barcelona

• CÉLINE ROZENBLAT, Université de Lausanne (Suiza)

• MÓNICA ORTEGA ROIG Universitat de València

• LORENA PASCUAL PAYÁ Universitat de València