Learning in Cities from Within and Across Cities: A Scoping Review

Cities evolve rapidly while providing both opportunities and posing challenges. To cope with the emerging behaviours of cities, contextual innovations and development are essential. Driving innovations through the learning of contextual knowledge in cities is crucial. In this study, we explore relevant studies to identify the frameworks for human-centric innovations in cities that consider learning from within and/or across cities. We analyse how learning in cities has been addressed in those studies and find that even though some aspects of learning in cities have been studied, a comprehensive framework for how cities can learn as an innovation ecosystem is missing. Based on the findings of a scoping review and insights from the theories of the Triple, Quadruple and Quintuple helices of innovation, we present a high-level conceptual model for cities as innovation ecosystems. The model is aimed to support sustainable human-centric development through the understanding of city learning through multilevel interactions and feedback.