Creating Collaborative Infrastructure for Inclusive Urban Innovation

Abstract

Cities are becoming actual innovation centres, mainly regarding products and services industries, processes and roles taken by actors involved. Societies’ expectations are increasing and, along with the ICT technologies use, they can drive normative and cultural change, thus increasing collective resources and growing social and economic infrastructure performance. This paper aims to present a framework of developmental backgrounds with great impact on collaborative infrastructure that can be used to enhance social inclusive urban innovation. The methodology used for this research is both bibliographic – opting to study the work of specialists in the field, and empirical – the theoretical approach is supported through global case studies. Creating a collaborative infrastructure will become an important element in the context of developing smart and inclusive cities. The results of this paper will show that collaborative practices have an important role regarding this issue, therefore the collaboration between public and private sectors could improve citizens’ life quality. Although technology is a main element in all activities, we have identified that the capability and willingness of individuals and institutions to cooperate and innovate is also important, not only by using electronic means, but also through traditional ways of participating in the social developing process.