Circular Economy and the Role of Universities in Urban Regeneration: The Case of Ortigia, Syracuse

Stefania De Medici, Patrizia Riganti and Serena Viola
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Stefania De Medici: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, SDS of Architecture, Università degli Studi di Catania, 96100 Siracusa, Italy
Patrizia Riganti: Department of Property Management & Development, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
Serena Viola: Department of Architecture, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80100 Naples, Italy

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-26

Abstract: Regeneration processes activate stable regimes of interaction and interdependence among the architectural, economic, cultural and social sub-systems in settlements. The thesis of this paper is that in order to progress towards sustainable and inclusive cities, urban governance should widen the decision-making arena, promoting virtuous circular dynamics based on knowledge transfer, strategic decision making and stakeholders’ engagement. The historic urban landscape is a privileged la b for this purpose. The paper adapts the Triple-Helix model of knowledge-industry-government relationships to interpret the unexpected regimes of interaction between Local Authority and Cultural Heritage Assets triggered in the late 90es by the establishment of a knowledge provider such as a Faculty of Architecture in the highly degraded heritage context of the city of Syracuse, Italy. Following this approach, the authors explain the urban regeneration happened over the last 20 years in the port city of Syracuse, based on knowledge sharing and resources’ protection that promoted processes of social engagement and institutional empowerment for both new residents and entrepreneurs.

Keywords: Triple-Helix model; knowledge; cultural heritage; urban regeneration; performance indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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