by Edoardo De Stefani | Apr 10, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
Thinking about cities, we cannot avoid thinking about pitfalls in public services or drawbacks of its uncured spaces. Also, we cannot avoid speaking about financial constraints, economic crisis and socio-cultural deficiencies.
Though, looking at the positive side, there are people, administrators, professionals, enterprises, academics or simply citizens that actively nudge for urban regeneration.
Eventually, this is also the idea of the municipality of Alessandria, which drafted and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Protocollo d’Intesa) with the two universities that are present on the territory, the University of Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro” and the Politecnico of Torino, with the objective of creating social innovation within the framework of the program “Noi Cittadini”.
The underlying idea is that of rethinking the city and its territory, but most of all the space and the role of citizens.
It is not a secret that public administrators cannot solve alone the enigma of social innovation, simply because designing a project is not only about money or calculus; there are several tangible and intangible resources which are needed for the success, and these include ideas, sentiments, energies, competencies and time.
For this reason it is very important to include all stakeholders in the “regeneration” project, both in the preliminary design phase and in the implementation stage.
The view of the Public Administration as a sort of financier must be abandoned, because again, projects are about discerning necessities and the particular socio-cultural microsystem, but also about finding a line of understanding between different stakeholders, namely a collaborative attitude. Having the opportunity to work collaboratively at a round table with the university and the public administration represents an opening to reverse the paradigm of the old and inefficient public plans.
Nonetheless, what it is important to acknowledge is that including different actors in the show does not mean having a divestiture of responsibilities, but simply a more legitimized process of democratic representation.
LabGov is well acquainted with the dynamics of collaboration between public administration, society and enterprises. It is all within the core of our quintuple helix approach, as represented by the LabGov logo. For this reason, the “Noi Cittadini” initiative represents a good opportunity to reflect on different collaborative opportunities, with regard to new partners and interlocutors.
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Sulla scia dei recenti successi di esperimenti di amministrazione condivisa, tra cui il Regolamento di Bologna sulla cura e rigenerazione dei beni comuni, diverse iniziative stanno poco alla volta prendendo piede sul territorio nazionale. Da un alto, l’avvicinamento a pratiche di collaborazione rappresenta una necessità finanziaria e di legittimazione politica, mentre dall’altro esprime la volontà di godere appieno del diritto di essere cittadini.
Per far sì che progetti interessanti e innovativi trovino poi concreta realizzazione, è necessario costruire un tavolo di progettazione condiviso al quale possano sedere congiuntamente università, cittadini, imprese e pubblica amministrazione.
Parlare di rigenerazione delle città, significa ripensare il ruolo dei vari attori che vivono un determinato territorio, ma soprattutto trovare quelle risorse utili a sostenere un progetto di lunga durata.
L’innovazione sociale e la sua sostenibilità richiedono uno sforzo condiviso, ed è proprio per questo motivo che il Comune di Alessandria, in collaborazione con l’università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro e del Politecnico di Torino, ha siglato un protocollo d’intesa per “fare sistema”.
L’elaborazione di politiche innovative passa attraverso la costruzione di un asse portante tra forze territoriali, economiche, professionali e sociali.
In tal senso, l’operazione “Noi Cittadini” rientra nel quadro di innovazione sostenibile che il comune intende perseguire.
by Edoardo De Stefani | Mar 26, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
The stagnation of the economic growth and industrial development could induce us to believe that the time of fabrics has come to an end. Conversely, the emergence of the mounting trend of the so-called “start-up” phenomenon is modernizing the way of doing business. Moreover, the scenario comprehends a different category, namely the one of the FAbLabs.
Although it is difficult to classify strictu sensu the different typologies of Labs, there are common qualities that can be traced for all. Indeed, it is not difficult to accept as a common denominator that those LABs represent a melting pot for the fabrication of social energy. To put it alternatively, citizens, machines, methods and ideas altogether create a tangible output for the surrounding community within this co-working spaces.
In this sense, the added value is represented by the contribution of multiple stakeholders, especially citizens, which eventually inject novel inputs in the mechanisms.
So for example, the idea of the FAbLabs entails the possibility to create a physical and digital hub whereas people can work together exchanging ideas, projects, competencies and experimenting innovation as consequence of autonomous initiatives.
In a sense, the path opened by the culture of co-working LABs is a good premise for designing and developing new practices for social inclusion and community growth.
Nonetheless, bringing the concept of social innovation to the market has also the effect of redefining the roles and the objectives of enterprises, municipalities and even universities. In fact, it is not uncommon that even universities try to install ideas and incubate projects in order to produce high quality series of tangible and intangible products.
This is for instance the case of affiliation with European Universities, as in the case of VUB in Bruxelles (see more here).
FabLabs are indeed a sort of Fabric of Labour, as well as a space for cultural innovation, knowledge production and eventually a place for nurturing social cohesiveness.
But more surprisingly these spaces, even if limited in number, are slowing popping-out as a good alternative to fit the needs of a socio-economic renovation.
In Italy for example, there are at least 43 relevant spaces for running this kind of social innovation, as showed in the map here.
Besides, supporting institutions and policies can set a milestone in terms of social innovation, for example through the recognition of the co-working method as a referential practice of governance.
However, in relation to FabLabs, there are still lot of dynamics and themes that have to be further investigated and those are briefly the following:
1) Fundraising and accession criteria
2) Added value of the social enterprise
3) Governance method and redefinition of public spaces
4) Pact of collaboration with the public administration
5) Census of actors and activities
6) Real estate speculation
7) Political project – civic targeting- social dialogue
That said, there are also good instances of social planning, as the one envisioned in 2014 by the Lazio Region within the “Lazio Creativo Planning”.
But other examples can be easily found, for instance in our previous article here.
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La recente evoluzione del fenomeno dei FabLab, si ricollega alla necessità di rilanciare le economie di produzione , tenendo in considerazione allo stesso tempo il valore delle dinamiche socio-culturali.
Laddove le fabbriche non sono più in grado di sostenere la crescita economica e le start-up non sono ancora sufficientemente radicate sul territorio, la categoria del FabLab si inserisce allo stesso tempo come strumento di innovazione sociale e di sviluppo industriale.
Il concetto di base è quello di creare spazi di collaborazione, ove il comune cittadino – e non solo – possano sperimentare tecniche, metodi, idee e pratiche di produzione di qualità.
L’idea principale del FAbLab, cosi come delle sue varianti, è quella di creare un hub fisico e digitale che possa produrre output tangibili per la comunità circostante.
In Italia per esempio esiste già un rigoglioso ambiente per sperimentare l’ innovazione sociale, supportato spesso da politiche di pianificazione ed inclusione sociale, tra cui il piano Lazio Creativo.
by Edoardo De Stefani | Mar 19, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
The neoliberal world-system has entered a multiple crisis, while the stalemate of the growth function is hampering the socio-economic progress. Energy provision, climate stability, food production and distribution, public service provision, land access and political stability are consequentially threatened by a system that is no more sustainable and self-reliant.
Moreover, the congestion and the rivalry upon the use and exploitation of resources leave no room for development, at least if the current structural paradigm is not questioned.
Seemingly, the current society is at the margin of disruption and far obviously, existing institutional structures are not functioning properly.
To put it differently, a wave of disruption is sweeping in from various marginal corners, in particular from the contours of cities that are slowly becoming the cemetery of social cohesiveness.
Though, the problem is much easier to identify than expected: a non-participatory attitude of citizens in the public life dislocates the foundations of civil society.
Nonetheless the problem is different: why citizens are not feeling included in the decision-making processes or in the public life?
Once again the answer is simple, if we accept that normal bureaucratic procedures and institutional ecosystems are not citizen-friendly.
The focal question then, is about redesigning existing structures in a functional way and in a sense that they could become appealing and welcoming.
Arguably the claim is not complex: if the functioning of the society were based on cooperation, solidarity, democracy, equality and responsibility, there would be enough reason to claim ownership over public spaces. And if people eventually get the chance to enjoy the public space, simply because they feel attached to it, energies and input would naturally flow into the social machinery.
Thus, the emergence of the idea of the Commons is instrumental to the paradigm shift. It is not merely about a smooth transition, but widely, it is the product of an exploding social enrichment.
The transition to a world of the commons corresponds to the establishment of a new social contract, which can defend and promote the opportunity for people to participate at the making of public life.
In a sense, opening the system to a path of systemic collaboration can stimulate a pioneering form of social co-working between the principal political, economic and social agents.
However, it is clear enough that a common-based economy cannot flourish without appropriate institutions, especially those that should play a sustaining role in the direct creation of value by civil society (see the concept elaborated by Michel Bauwens of the Partner State ).
It is for this reason that shareable cities have always represented an ideal chimera, till today.
Quoting an article by Jonathan Dawson appeared recently on The Guardian, it is from the marginal corners of our society that a new wave of disruptive innovation is coming.
Shifting from a passive form of electoral democracy to a generative democracy of radical engagement is what is currently happening in Italy, and it is real.
The city of Bologna and the “Regulation on public collaboration” (see also the article on Bologna Regulation on Public collaboration) carry a new vision of the sharing city, or commons-oriented one. Professor Christian Iaione, LabGov Coordinator, is one of the pioneers of such institutional innovation.
As he argues, what we need is a nudging class, in order to drive and convince society and institutions that sharing is the new frontier of social innovation.
The five actors of collaborative governance, as subscribed in the Quintuple Helix approach (expressed in LabGov logo), represent the emergence of an innovative platform of open cities.
Professor Iaione took seriously the idea that citizens have energy, imagination and responsibility, but mainly, that people can become themselves innovators, service designers, co-workers and experts.
And for those who think that Commons are just a naïve and ingenuous pretence, they may be interested in the dozen of other Italian cities that are emulating the Bologna initiative.
As LabGov, we are making governance at grassroots level because people need a new vision, new energies and powerful social relations to come out from a bottom-up perspective.
The economy of the commons cannot simply be understood as a ready to go policy, but I feel that wherever there would be enough imagination and confidence, we can really work on the role of collaboration.
Our commitment is just the first step for bringing a new social narrative, but there is only one way to challenge the typical narrow thinking, and that is about being agents of collaboration.
Therefore also LabGov owes a debt of gratitude to all those experts, professionals, citizens, students, and courageous pioneers that are collaborating for making this change real. See more at:
http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/the-city-as-commons-michel-bauwens-interviews-professor-christian-iaione/2015/02/24
http://commonstransition.org/the-city-as-commons-with-professor-christian-iaione/
http://www.shareable.net/blog/interviewed-professor-christian-iaione-on-the-city-as-commons
http://bollier.org/blog/labgov-pioneers-paradigm-city-commons
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/12/disruption-challenge-neoliberalism-commons-political-system
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Il fallimento dell’attuale configurazione istituzionale, nonché il susseguirsi di crisi economiche, politiche e socio-culturali, hanno lentamente spostato l’asse della società verso una fase di stallo apparentemente irreversibile.
Inoltre, l’incapacità delle amministrazioni pubbliche di fornire servizi adeguati e il contemporaneo disinteresse del cittadino alla vita pubblica, hanno ulteriormente peggiorato la situazione di crisi odierna.
Tuttavia, la soluzione alla crisi appare più semplice se inquadrata nell’ottica di un drastico cambiamento di paradigma istituzionale.
La città come bene comune diviene allora la nuova narrativa che può vincere il dominio dell’egemonia neoliberale.
E le shareable cities, finora ritenute un illusorio esercizio di stile, cominciano a smuovere le fondamenta degli assetti istituzionali tradizionali.
La città di Bologna rappresenta in questo senso un’innovazione, grazie anche al contributo delle idee e delle energie di visionari pionieri della democrazia intesa come inclusione radicale del cittadino, tra cui il Professor Christian Iaione Coordinatore di LabGov.
Il Professor Iaione ha realmente saputo catalizzare le idee e le energie per costruire un sistema istituzionale di governance collaborativa.
Grazie anche a LabGov, nuovi agenti della collaborazione stanno gettando le basi per costruire e coltivare l’innovazione sociale e nuove forme di governance collaborativa.
Una nuova visione della società civile, basata su un virtuoso scambio collaborativo tra stato, cittadino, imprese e università è già in proiezione.
Per questo motivo, LabGov onora il suo debito di gratitudine verso tutti quegli esperti, professionisti, studenti, università, cittadini ed incoscienti pionieri che stanno contribuendo a rendere reale questo cambiamento.
Appare evidente come il movimento dei Commons non possa più essere considerato un fattore di nicchia; rendiamolo globale.
http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/the-city-as-commons-michel-bauwens-interviews-professor-christian-iaione/2015/02/24
http://commonstransition.org/the-city-as-commons-with-professor-christian-iaione/
http://www.shareable.net/blog/interviewed-professor-christian-iaione-on-the-city-as-commons
http://bollier.org/blog/labgov-pioneers-paradigm-city-commons
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/12/disruption-challenge-neoliberalism-commons-political-system
by Edoardo De Stefani | Mar 11, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
The sharing economy is growing faster than ever and it represents nowadays a mainstream tendency. However, when we talk about a new vision for the economy, we have to consider that it encompasses a new set of variables and determinants.
First of all, sharing economy is about a paradigmatic change that opens the path to a systemic collaboration between users, producers and mediators.
In a sense, the narrative of sharing economy gives evidence of a new phenomenon, which is related to the crescent role of the “agents” of collaboration. In a nutshell, there is a plurality of subjects -including citizens, entrepreneurs and Public administration- that work together for the co-production of public policies.
It is helpful to imagine the sharing economy as a strategic roundtable for the osmotic confrontation of the principal political, economic and social agents.
Once the vignette is clear, the new element is about transforming confrontation into executive collaboration, in order to substitute the essential service providing with a pioneering form of social co-working.
It is true that the dysfunctions of the current capitalist mechanism and the pitfalls of the institutional governance structure threaten the provision of public services. For this reason, it is necessary to sustain active networks of civic stakeholders in order to facilitate the design and the provision of services.
However, we should not think about sharing economy as a mere externalization, or as an appealing tool to confer responsibilities with resignation.
For this reason, the traditional array of public services is just complemented and supported by a new strand of principal actors, namely citizens and enterprises.
In principle, we are assisting to an hybrid evolution of the traditional supply chains, whereas the integration and collaboration among “diverse “can narrow the distance between Public administration and local networks.
Clearly, as well explained in an article by “Tempi Ibridi“, the ground for transformation is first of all territorial, because the “asset class” of “changemakers” is the local dimension.
There are several examples of successful transformation, like the one in the Municipality of Brescia.
Even enterprises and multinational firms like Leroy Merlin are shifting toward the paradigm of sharing economy, including their customers in the business plan.
However, as Neal Gorenflo correctly reminded us in a previous event, we must pay attention to the issue of social hierarchies: the real sharing economy is about dissolving the gap between trans-formational economy and trans-action sharing, which basically still represents a mere re-adaptation of the old capitalist paradigm to new economic trends.
We need to open cities, to make them shareable and to activate participation, though at the same time it is fundamental not to reply inefficient monopolies under false pretenses.
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La sharing economy rappresenta ormai il punto di partenza nella definizione delle policy pubbliche. La discesa in campo di attori non istituzionali, tipicamente cittadini e imprese, ha rinvigorito il network del decision-making, conferendogli una struttura maggiormente partecipata.
L’innovazione della sharing economy è rappresentata quindi dalla possibilità, tanto più dalla necessità di integrare una nuova pluralità di soggetti nelle reti di co-progettazione e design delle politiche pubbliche, intese come policy.
Queste nuove forme di partecipazione rappresentano l’elemento nuovo della sharing economy, nonché il principale agente dello sviluppo economico-sociale.
Se quindi i nuovi network collaborativi impersonano la figura del changemaker, i luoghi principali della trasformazione sono le città e gli ambienti urbani.
E’ proprio nell’ambito della territorialità che emergono nuove filiere di co-progettazione per destrutturare e riaggregare i servizi in un’ottica society-oriented.
Certamente, quello della sharing economy è un passaggio complesso, ma alcuni territori possono già rappresentare un esempio d’innovazione sociale, tra cui il caso di Brescia…
Come ci ricorda un articolo di “Tempi Ibridi“, l’eterogeneità e la co-progettazione diventano lo stimolo necessario per avviare la trasformazione del modello economico classico.
E’ proprio in questo contesto di osmosi, che anche il business può diventare partecipato, come per esempio nel caso di Leroy Merlin.
by Edoardo De Stefani | Feb 20, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
To remain competitive, cities must find a way to ensure efficiency in management, while delivering high quality services to citizens.
However, innovation is more about becoming ecosystem manager rather than service provider; for this reason, the dimensional change of the smart-city scenario requires a profound transformation of networks, with the objective of promoting the inclusion of private sector and civil society.
It is essential to understand that smart innovation requires openness, as a way to enable participation and revitalize the lifecycle processes of the cities.
The cultural and creative industries are part of such smart content, as they can bring digital resources, heritage and eventually engage the general public, citizens, industries and public administration.
In this field, Europeana Food and Drink is an example of how to promote the wider re-use of digital cultural resources by the creative industries.
The objective of this project, funded by the European Commission under the CIP ICT Policy support programme (PSP), is boosting creativity and business development across Europe through the theme of food and drink, bringing together organizations, creative industries and civic society.
The main focus is on the social and community aspects of food and drink, since they can produce business development and promote knowledge sharing through high quality digital assets and associated metadata.
There are plenty of ways to support creative processes and Europeana Food and Drink promises that it will be able to demonstrate that technological partners and creative industries can work together at the development of commercially viable applications and services.
Through its wide network of partners and alliances, such as the collaboration with DigiLab Sapienza, which empowers cultural production and scientific research, Europeana Food and Drink is a good opportunity to discover the field of “open innovation”.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that this project is in line with the principles of the “Charter of Milan“, a sort of Kyoto protocol dedicated to food.
Further info at => Link
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Europeana Food and Drink è un progetto finanziato dalla Commissione Europea nell’ambito del programma ICT PSP, con l’obiettivo di integrare i diversi partner tecnologici e l’industria creativa in un processo di arricchimento del patrimonio e della cultura del cibo.
Il progetto s’inserisce in un quadro più ampio d’innovazione digitale e intende impegnare le istituzioni pubbliche, le aziende e le organizzazioni che si occupano di beni culturali in un piano di sviluppo dei contenuti digitali relativi a prodotti eno-gastronomici.
Grazie al supporto dei suoi partner, tra cui il DigiLab Sapienza, il progetto intende valorizzare l’eredità della cultura e delle tradizioni legate al cibo.
In linea anche con quanto espresso nella “Carta di Milano“, una sorta di protocollo di Kyoto dedicato al cibo, il progetto si posiziona nel campo dell'”open innovation”.
Per ulteriori informazioni => Link
