Innovation or spectacularisation of the city? Barcelona and Milan in comparison

Abstract

Does the article address “Innovation or spectacularisation of urban areas? Barcelona and Milan in comparison", placing the theme in the economic, social and territorial framework discussed by the authors. As part of this ambitious program, coordinated by the Institut Municipal d’Informàtica Hàbitat Urbà, the completion of the transformation of the waterfront is continued no longer through the overtime of great events, but through the project 22@Barcelona Innovation District promoted by the Departament de Urbanismo del Comune and by public society to private management BarcelonActiva. Although the project is frequently criticized as a real estate development intervention disguised by the slogan of smart city, different thematic clusters with high technological content (Media, ICT, Medical Technology, Design and Energy) are being set up involving public entities, universities, enterprises and associations (local and international). In this context, the Milan Smart City program aims to coordinate all the experiences in place in the municipal territory that show affinity with the themes of urban smartness together with some initiatives specifically conceived. As anticipated, some digital innovation projects linked to the upcoming Universal Exhibition were started directly by the Expo 2015 Spa management company working on different territorial scales.

Keywords

urban economy; innovation; big events; smart city; real estate market; infrastructure

JEL codes

R58; O33; O31