Optional: Knowledge-Based Development Is the Missing Link in Iran's Urban Management

Isfahan – Deputy for Policymaking at the Vice Presidency for Science said: The problem with Iran's cities is not a lack of projects, but the absence of knowledge- and innovation-based development within the urban fabric.

According to the Mehr reporter, Esfandiar Esfandiar said on Thursday morning at the "Educational workshop on the transformation of urban concepts and the path towards knowledge-based cities" in Isfahan: With the spread of complex urban issues, from the water crisis and air pollution to the inefficiency of administrative processes, it is no longer possible to seek to solve the problems of cities with traditional models of management and development. Rather, it is necessary that knowledge, human capital and innovation become a part of the city's decision-making and administration system.

Referring to the difference between the physical economy and the knowledge-based economy, he added: In the physical economy, labor and physical space play a central role, but in the knowledge-based economy, knowledge and innovative capacities become the main sources of value creation. This change of approach should also be taken into account in urban policy making.

The vice president for policy and development of the science, technology and knowledge-based economy vice president, referring to the capacities of the country's innovation ecosystem, said: this ecosystem includes a set of knowledge-based companies, universities, growth centers, accelerators, innovation centers, co-working spaces, and financing institutions; However, the existence of these capacities alone does not mean the effective use of knowledge and technology by cities.

Referring to the capacities of the city of Isfahan in the field of innovation and technology, he clarified: the basic question is to what extent these capacities have been able to communicate with the city body and be used in solving its real problems. The existence of scientific and technological infrastructure leads to urban development when the knowledge produced in these collections enters the executive processes, decision-making and solving urban problems.

Referring to problems such as air pollution, water crisis, and time-consuming administrative processes, Otsi continued: When a citizen has to go to various institutions in person to do administrative work and personally follow up on the circulation of correspondence, one can question the extent to which the administrative system utilizes knowledge, technology, and innovative solutions. These issues show that the smartness of the city is not limited to the use of new equipment and technologies and must also transform the way the city is run.

Emphasizing the necessity of reviewing the industrial development patterns of cities, he said: still in some development decisions, the establishment of industries that have high water consumption or environmental consequences is emphasized. Knowledge-based development requires that the capacity of universities, technological companies and innovation institutions be used in choosing industrial and urban development paths.

The distance between the ecosystem of innovation and the real problems of cities

The Vice President for Policy and Development of the Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy Vice President explained the concept of a knowledge-based city: a knowledge-based city is a city where knowledge, human capital and innovation are systematically transformed into the creation of economic value, improvement of the quality of life and sustainable urban development, relying on smart governance.

He added: The realization of this model does not mean simply increasing the number of projects or importing advanced technologies; Rather, it should be determined what problem the technology and knowledge used solve, how much they answer the needs of the city, and what effect they have on the quality of life of the citizens.

Emphasizing that the formation of a knowledge-based city is not limited to an executive body, Efki said: Governorate, governorate, municipality, city Islamic council, industrial and environmental bodies and other related institutions should cooperate in a common framework for knowledge-based development. Without synergy between these collections, the innovation ecosystem and the urban ecosystem will operate as islands and will not use each other's capacities.

smart governance; From changing the attitude of managers to measuring the quality of life

Pointing to the need to change the attitude of city managers, he added: Realization of a knowledge-based city requires a change in the approach of managers and their decision-making process rather than depending on the formulation of independent guidelines. When issuing permits, allocating resources, choosing development plans and determining urban priorities, managers should consider the degree of conformity of decisions with the real needs of the city and the capacities of knowledge and innovation.

Referring to the experience of Yazd city in pursuing the model of a knowledge-based city, he said: the implementation of this approach requires time, planning and coordination between different groups, and we cannot expect such a transformation to happen overnight. Running experiences can provide a basis for examining practices that are appropriate to the characteristics of each city.

Referring to the necessity of compiling indicators for evaluating knowledge-based cities, Efki noted: In order to measure the progress of cities, indicators should be defined in the field of human resources, infrastructure, processes and quality of life, in order to determine the state of each city and to what extent the measures taken have helped to achieve the goals of knowledge-based development.

He emphasized: urban ecosystem and innovation ecosystem cannot operate independently of each other. The link between these two ecosystems should be formed in such a way that scientific, technological and creative capacities are used to solve the problems of the city and urban management provides the basis for using these capacities.

The educational workshop on the transformation of urban concepts and the path towards knowledge-based cities was held on Thursday morning with the presence of the vice president for science, technology and knowledge-based economy and the mayors of the cities of Isfahan province.