Leveraging Smart and Sustainable Development via International Events: Insights from Bento Gonçalves Knowledge Cities World Summit

Larissa Diana Michelam, Tatiana Tucunduva Philippi Cortese, Tan Yigitcanlar, Ana Cristina Fachinelli, Leonardo Vils and Wilson Levy
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Larissa Diana Michelam: Graduate Program in Smart and Sustainable Cities, Nove de Julho University, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, São Paulo 01525-000, Brazil
Tatiana Tucunduva Philippi Cortese: Graduate Program in Smart and Sustainable Cities, Nove de Julho University, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, São Paulo 01525-000, Brazil
Tan Yigitcanlar: School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Ana Cristina Fachinelli: Graduate Program in Administration, University of Caxias do Sul, Rua Francisco Getúlio Vargas, 1130, Caxias do Sul 95070-560, Brazil
Leonardo Vils: Graduate Program in Smart and Sustainable Cities, Nove de Julho University, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, São Paulo 01525-000, Brazil
Wilson Levy: Graduate Program in Smart and Sustainable Cities, Nove de Julho University, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, São Paulo 01525-000, Brazil

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 17, 1-27

Abstract: During the last couple of decades, making cities smarter and more sustainable has become an important urban agenda. In this perspective, knowledge-based development is seen as a strategic approach for cities seeking to thrive through innovation and resilience. Accomplishing a knowledge-based development agenda is, however, challenging, and cities need support mechanisms to effectively develop and then incorporate such agendas into their decision-making processes. This study investigates the role of international events as one of these support mechanisms for the development and implementation of local knowledge-based development agendas. The study aims to address how international events contribute to the local knowledge-based development efforts. This study takes the Knowledge Cities World Summit (KCWS) series as the exemplar international event, and the Brazilian city of Bento Gonçalves as the case study city. The methodological approach of the study consists of semi-structured interview-based qualitative analysis and case study investigations. The findings of the study revealed the following: (a) international events can be fundamental drivers of local knowledge-based agendas; (b) these events contribute to host cities’ development, especially at an institutional level, by generating outcomes such as engagement in cooperation networks and leveraging local actors’ influence on the development process; and (c) KCWS was instrumental in placing the local university as a protagonist of the knowledge-based development movement of Bento Gonçalves. The study reported in this paper provides invaluable insights for cities seeking to use international knowledge-based development events for smart and sustainable city formation.

Keywords: knowledge-based development; knowledge-based urban development; smart and sustainable city; sustainable urban development; local development; urban development; knowledge cities world summit; international events; Bento Gonçalves; Brazil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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