Universities and cities a key factor for a sustainable development of medium-size smart cities Gastone AVE

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1 Universities and cities a key factor for a sustainable development of medium-size smart cities Gastone AVE Associate Professor of Urban Planning Department of Architecture University of Ferrara, Italy gastone.ave@unife.it 1

2 Summary Cultural and historical heritage projects are just one area where universities as institutions have demonstrated that it is possible to blend economic viable communities with sustainable city development University institutions have spurred development in most Italian cities, including the South. However, since 1980s splitting existing 67 public universities, plus 29 non public universities, in about 360 locations in almost 300 municipalities has resulted in very weak positive effects, if not negative results for research and teaching quality and in terms of system efficiency. 2

3 Summary In sum universities are not a reliable answer for smart growth of medium-sized cities, unless the following three conditions apply: 1. universities reach in a single location a sizeable dimension and act as a united institution; 2. universities operate through networks and act as a world gate to access international know-how and culture; 3. universities and municipalities cooperate day by day to implement the same strategic development plan for the benefit of the entire local community through an open government method. 3

4 From industrial economies to service based post industrial economies Most cities in West Europe have experienced a transition in the last 30 years from industrial based local economies to post industrial and service oriented local economies. Research and development activities have attained an unprecedented key role, along with services and various forms of tourism, from leisure to business or religious events. Within knowledge based economies universities have emerged as key players not only of social progress but also of economic growth 4

5 Industrial economy: production factors Manpower Management required to increase output Equity and Financial Capital Technologies and know-how Energy, components and raw materials Machinery and leases Land and leasable space 5

6 Service-based post Industrial economy: production factors required to increase Manpower Management output Equity and Financial Capital Technologies and know-how Energy, components and raw materials Machinery and leases Land and leasable space 6

7 Some examples of urban marketing vehicles The Best Place on Earth to do business Of all places on earth, of all its oceans and land masses, its continents and countries can there be one best place to do business? There not only can be, there is! VHS Cassette New York,

8 Some examples of urban marketing vehicles Warsaw, Poland, 2005: Investment Offer Ukraine 2005 : First Ukrainian Development, Business card CD 8

9 Some examples of urban marketing vehicles Turin and Piedmont North West Italy Investment Opportunities for Hotel and Tourism Industry Turin 2000 Brochure and CD 9

10 Recurrent points of urban marketing messages 1. Good economic «climate» - Public private partnership - Efficient local government - Enterprises already in place and new business projects 2. Good infrastructures - Location and accessibility - Passengers and freight transport networks - Data infrastractures and ICT 3. Good quality of life - Natural environment, history, culture, food, entertainement 10

11 Recurrent points of urban marketing messages 1. Good economic «climate» - Public private partnership - Efficient local government - Enterprises already in place and new business projects 2. Good infrastructures - Location and accessibility - Passengers and freight transport networks - Data infrastractures and ICT 3. Good quality of life - Natural environment, history, culture, food, entertainement In a knowledge based economy, local universities have become a competitive advantage in all three areas of comparative analysis between cities and regions to attract direct foreign investments, selected people, and institutions 11

12 City of Turin as example first of transition to industry then to post industry Awareness Decline Shock Dead end Crossroads Manage the decline New vision 12

13 Turin: transition from Capital City to Industrial City 1861 Turin capital of Italy for about 1 year Manage the decline Awareness Decline Shock Dead end Crossroads New vision 13

14 1861 Turin capital of Italy for about 1 year: move capital to Florence Manage the decline Riots Outmigration Accept downsizing Awareness Crossroads Decline Shock Dead end New vision 14

15 1861 Turin capital of Italy for about 1 year: final move capital to Rome Awareness Decline Shock Dead end Crossroads Manage the decline Riots Outmigration Accept downsizing New vision Continue to be capital not of a kingdom but of industry 15

16 The first strategic plan of an Italian city 1865 April technical commission appointed (members of City Council and consultants) 1865 swot analysis» Strategic plan: one axis: industrial development» Energy is the competitive advantage for industrial activities» Energy: plenty and low cost» Well trained labour force» Workers makes savings: there is a good market Mass scale water works to produce energy at low cost Appeal to national and foreign entrepreneurs 16

17 20 th October 1865 The first ever urban marketing action by a city 17

18 «Appeal to National and Foreign Capitalists and Manifacturers»: the first phrase The City of Turin, in order to offset the highly negative consequences of the move of the capital, is keen to adopt all measures to benefit its inhabitants, not only to stop out-migration flows but to induce in-migration flows. matters La Città di Torino, onde neutralizzare le conseguenze per lei disastrose del trasloco della capitale, si affatica ad adottare tutte quelle misure che giudica le più adatte all utile dei suoi abitanti, e non solo ad impedirne la emigrazione, ma ancora a favorirne la immigrazione. 18

19 Turin: from industrial city to post industry service based city Since the 1980s automotive industry has changed Manage the decline Awareness Decline Shock Dead end Crossroads New vision 19

20 Turin: decline of the company town Since the 1980s automotive industry has changed Awareness Decline Shock Dead end model in the 1980s Crossroads Manage the decline Strikes Large waste land sites Outmigration Accept downsizing New vision 20

21 Awareness Decline Shock Dead end Turin: from industrial city to Since the 1980s automotive industry has changed international metropolis Crossroads Manage the decline Riots Outmigration Accept downsizing Shift from capital city of automotive industry to international metropolis New vision 21

22 Turin: redirects its growth through the first Italian strategic plan May 1998, Municipality of Turin: call for action on the future of the metropolitan area Shared view: city on the hedge of a change for the next century Strategy Phase 1 build a shared view of development of the metropolitan area up to 2011 Phase 2 identify through the Plan how to make real a shared vision What it is A plan to readdress the development of the area, taking into account: Urban development Economic base, past, present and likely in near future Social conditions Competitors 22

23 End of city expansion: planning has to spur social and economic development Historical change of role of planning and local governments Until the early 1980s Control development Government Restoration Allow reuse After the early 1980s Promote, control and promote development Governance Promote reuse Encourage revitalization 23

24 From City Master Plan (land use plan plan) to Strategic Plan (vision and long-term goals and directions plan) From city master plan analysis Project general framework plans Technical rules for implementation To City master plan plus Strategic plan SWOT analysis Detailed document and syntesis Participated and shared Strategic plan Synthesis of swot analysis vision Strategic axes Sectoral goals Single projects Few maps and plans Development Pact 24

25 Turin and Piedmont: an area chosen by 630 multinational enterprises. Why? As April 2014 in Turin s region Piedmont (North-West Italy) there are 630 multinational companies, mainly French and American, with 95,000 employees, 53% of which are active in the automotive sector The recently published forth edition of Observer of Centro Estero of the Chamber of Commerce of Turin, reports a survey of a sample of said 630 companies on their reasons for choosing Turin and its region 25

26 Turin and Piedmont: an area chosen by 630 multinational enterprises. Why? As April 2014 in Turin s region Piedmont (North-West Italy) there are 630 multinational companies, mainly French and American, with 95,000 employees, 53% of which are active in the automotive sector The recently published forth edition of Observer of Centro Estero of the Chamber of Commerce of Turin, reports a survey of a sample of said 630 companies on their reasons for choosing Turin and its region: 1. Well trained human resources 2. Advanced and integrated university and research systems 3. Extended network of sub-suppliers 26

27 Ferrara, a reborn city thanks to its University Ferrara, has based its economy on agriculture until the 1950s, on industry until 1980s and on a mixed used service sector led by its University since the 1990s The positive role of University of Ferrara (founded in 1391) as economic catalyst is not yet fully recognised. See for example the following two promotional videos produced by Province of Ferrara In this one, 4 minutes long, the city of Ferrara presents itself in a very attractive way, but not a single frame is dedicated to university life: Qr8 27

28 Ferrara, a reborn city thanks to its University In another recent video, 17 minutes long, which we do not watch now: Ferrara is shown as a prime touristic destination for its historical and cultural heritage. Only at minute for a few seconds Patrizia, a representative of the business community, states that: I think the greatest asset of Ferrara is its University which attracts students from all over the world. 28

29 Ferrara, population trend What has reversed the decline which began in 1971? Residents Students 29

30 Italian university system: a universe split in about 300 municipalies As of April 2014, according to MIUR (Italian Ministry of University and Research) there are in the country: 67 public universities 859 departments research centers 29 non public universities Total of 96 universities split in 360 distinct locations in about 300 cities and towns 30

31 Italian university system: a universe split in about 300 municipalies Italy is known to be the country of the 100 cities, we have now about one university per city head of province (104). And some sort of university degree course in almost 300 cities and towns. Three examples: University of Catania, in the island of Sicily, is located in one main location plus 13 additional surrounding cities Turin: University of Turin is located in Turin and its metropolitan area and also in other 13 town in the region of Piedmont, Polytechnic of Turin, also in Turin and in other 6 cities In the same region of Piedmont in 1998 a new public university was founded, the University of East Piedmont (Piemonte orientale), located in 11 cities 31

32 Italian university system: a universe split in about 300 municipalies The higher the number of universities the lower is the impact A split of venues of same university in various cities further weakens its impact on local economy, and may result in lower research and teaching quality A neighborhood university may be a less enriching experience for students Relationship between university as institution and more than one municipality may difficult to manage 32

33 Unitown, an international association between universities and university cities Unitown University Town Network was set up in 2013 by University of Ferrara and City of Ferrara, along the lines of other town gown associations in world The Governing bodies of Unitown are: The general meeting of members The Chairperson, Pasquale Nappi, Rector of the University of Ferrara (Unife) The Executive Board until next general meeting of members at the end of 2014: Pasquale Nappi, Rector of the University of Ferrara Tiziano Tagliani, Mayor of the City of Ferrara The Scientific Board, which provides advisory services to Unitown, is being set up Coordinator is Gastone Ave, planner and associate professor at Unife International advisory is provided by Paolo Ceccarelli, Unesco Chair at Unife and founder of the School of Architecture of Ferrara Board members will represent, in turn, all Unitown members, plus a couple of experts from institutions outside the network Research, secretarial and administrative services for Unitown are provided by Unife International Research and Unife International office 33

34 Unitown-University Town Network Partners as of March 2014 Braga, Portugal: City of Braga ; University of Minho Ferrara, Italy: City of Ferrara; University of Ferrara Katowice, Poland: University of Economics Kraków, Poland: Jagellonian University Thessaloniki, Greece: Aristotele University Turin, Italy: City of Turin; University of Turin Turku, Finland: City of Turku; University of Turku Other cities and university cities are have applied and their candidature will be decided soon. 34

35 Unitown meeting of representatives of student organizations Ferrara, 2-5 March 2014 Municipality of Ferrara, City Council meeting room, 5 th March

36 Unitown future activities All Unitown members intend to spread the knowledge of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, solemnly proclaimed in 2000 which should be seen as the corner stone of European citizenship. We believe that only when at local level there is full participation to decision making processes and full accountability of local institutions which ultimately bear a major role in letting youth be part of a common European dream. Unitown members will focus on innovative research and management projects to foster proactive participation on general themes and on specific issues related to the fundamental rights of the European Union, bearing in mind that it is at local level, where people live, study or work, that these general rights must find actual implementation. Other areas of common work will be: best practices for smart and sustainable cities based on open government methods cultural and historical heritage projects Further info on Unitown: 36

37 Thank you for your kind attention Department of Architecture 37