Urban sustainability and knowledge economy

1. IAOS/SCORUS – Santiago, Chile, 20-22 October 2010URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY – CITIES KNOWLEDGE NEEDSAstaManninenCity of Helsinki Urban Factsasta.manninen@hel.fiLeo KolttolaStatistics Finlandleo.kolttola@stat.fi

2. Urban sustainability and knowledge economy • Issues of sustainability in metropolitan and city areas are distinctive • The share of service industries is very high (on average 78 % in EU 27) and still rising. • Economic development is essentially linked to knowledge. • The role of “non-material” resources is an issue that can be most clearly observed in metropolitan and city areas. • The population of major cities and their regions is growing, which also causessocial problems, especially in developing countries.

3. Characteristics of the knowledge economySource: e.g. www.euricur.nl • Cities simultaneously promote a competitive, sustainable and inclusive city. • Attracting knowledge workers. • Creating knowledge. • Applying knowledge. • Developing growth clusters. • Cities possess a high organising capacity.

4. Knowledge needs on sustainable urban development Two sources are utilised: • Urban Matrix a four-year-long EU project targeted at knowledge exchange on urban sustainability , www.urban-matrix.net, and • Reference Framework for European Sustainable Cities, a current project embracing cities in all European countries www.rfsustainablecities.eu .

5. Knowledge needs on sustainable urban development according to Urban Matrix experiences • Integrated approaches to sustainable urban development • Sustainability aspects in public-private partnerships • Cooperation with stakeholders and citizen participation • Climate change • Integrated transport systems • Social cohesion & demographic change • Urban regeneration & compact cities • Linking competitiveness and economic development to sustainable development

6. Knowledge needs on sustainable urban development according to the RF for European Sustainable Cities objectives • To deliver an accepted common framework for sustainable urban development • To put in place the foundations on which to improve the skills and capacity to deal with sustainable integrated urban development • To deliver a key set of quality material (tools; good practices and the like) that can evolve and be adapted to suit city needs - and that will endure • To mobilise city and national bodies sufficiently to build a sustainable learning network

7. The way forward • The studieson urban development can lead to better understanding of the concept of sustainability in different social and economic environments. • The definition of the content of social sustainability and its interconnection to ecological and economic sustainability has proven to be important for the measurement frameworks of sustainable development (UNECE ). • DGINS Conference 30 September 2010. Measuring Progress, Well-being and Sustainable Development. (forthcoming)

8. Annex 1: Urban Matrix • URBAN MATRIX  Targeted Knowledge Exchange on Urban Sustainability, European Commision, Framework Programme 6 • Period: February 2006 - January 2010 • Coordinator of the project : www.eurocities.org • Partnershipproject: websitewww.eukn.org/urbanmatrix Partners: University of the West of England • GHK International • Amsterdam • Helsinki • Aalborg • Sevilla • Malmö • Belfast • San Sebastian • Palermo • Stockholm • Sheffield

9. Annex 2: Further links to the Reference Framework for Urban Sustainability • DGALN, La direction générale de l’aménagement, du logement et de la nature • CERTU • European Union • URBACT • Council of European Municipalities and Regions • EUROCITIES • In addition, 70 test cities will be appointed