Identità e immagine della città della conoscenza e dell’innovazione: teorie, politiche, strategie

EnglishIdentity and image of the knowledge and innovation city: theories, policies, strategies. – This paper aims at discussing a relevant issue in the field of urban studies and economic geography: how the construction of the identity and the definition of the image of knowledge and innovation cities can influence the 18 development of research and high-tech activities and the growth dynamics of the city itself. First, it identifies the various components which contribute to the creation of the identity of the knowledge and innovation city, dividing them into two categories: “structural components” (such as the presence of research centres, skilled human resources, high technology companies, etc.), which are considered as essential requisites, and “contextual components” (both tangible and intangible), which not only strengthen structural ones, but also help to define the typical features and the “signs” of the knowledge and innovation city. Secondly, the paper analyzes the relationship between the construction of an image that represents the knowledge and innovation city and the perception of this image by internal and external actors. Adopting this theoretical background, the case of Pisa is then presented, since it describes a medium sized university city, with a “lights and shadows” situation – linked to the presence of at least another other strong urban image, such as being the “City of the Leaning Tower” – which aims at recognizing and communicating itself as an urban centre that grounds its development on scientific knowledge and technological innovation. francaisIdentite et image de la ville de la connaissance e de l’innovation : theories, politiques, strategies. – Cet article vise a reflechir sur une question fondamentale: comment la construction d’une identite et la definition d’une image de ville de la connaissance et de l’innovation peuvent affecter le developpement de la recherche et de l’haute technologie et contribuer aux dynamiques de croissance de la ville elle-meme. Tout d’abord, il identifie les differentes composantes qui contribuent a creer une identite pour la ville de la connaissance et de l’innovation, en les divisant en deux categories: “composants structurels” (centres de recherche, ressources humaines qualifiees, entreprises de haute technologie), consideres comme les pre-requis essentiels, et le “composants de contexte” (tangibles et intangibles), qui d’une part renforcent les activites structurelles et d’autre part aident a definir les caracteristiques typiques et les “signes” d’une ville de la connaissance et l’innovation. L’article a ensuite analyse la relation entre la construction d’une image qui represente l’identite de la ville de la connaissance et l’innovation, et la perception que les sujets ont de cette image au niveau local et international. Dans ce contexte theorique, le cas de Pise est ensuite presente, car il decrit une ville universitaire de taille moyenne, qui montre une situation de “lumieres et d’ombres” – liee a la presence d’au moins une autre image forte, comme etant la “Ville de la Tour Penchee” – en visant a se reconnaitre et a se communiquer comme un centre urbain qui fonde son developpement sur la connaissance scientifique et l’innovation technologique.