TOWARDS AN URBAN REGENERATION MODEL DRIVEN BY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AND SMART SPECIALIZATION STRATEGIES IN THE DANUBE REGION

Abstract

This paper analyzes the contribution of the project RESTART_4Danube to urban regeneration in the Danube Region by enhancing transnational cooperation and coordination in Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) among the participating countries. From this perspective, the RESTART_4Danube project has a two-fold objective: (i) to strengthen the links between enterprises, research and development centers, universities and civil society, and (ii) to develop a new CCI-driven Urban Regeneration model that is rooted in regional Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) and can provide solid evidence for improving the framework conditions and public policies for research, innovation and regional development, in the sense of a transformative, systemic innovation policy, with an impact that goes beyond the CCIs and research & innovation eco-system, in order to produce broader effects in the economy, becoming more socially sustainable, according to the new orientation of smart specialization strategies for sustainable and inclusive growth (S4+).