1. ( Creative cities
The role of knowing communities in
Montreal
)
id
Campus
Emilie Pawlak - Colloque SPI+ - 13 et 14 Novembre 2011

2. ( Economic context
)
⊛ The creative economy is based on a new developmental paradigm that links business,
culture, Arts and technology (UN Report, 2008)
⊛ New sources of value creation lie at the interface between creativity, culture and
economics
⊛ Creative capital: complex to define because various dimensions, no direct link
between creative endeavor and economic outcomes => result from the interplay of
social, cultural and institutional capital
⊛ The collaboration curve surpassed the experience curve
⊛ Agglomeration economies stem from diversity - there is an advantage to produce
something distinctive linked to local specificities (Gertler, 2004)
⊛ Creativity and innovation: situated phenomenon (time and place)

3. ( Creative cities:
some characteristics
⊛ Ability to attract specific skills and not only human capital in general (“creative class”)
(Florida, 2000)
)
⊛ Different from a cluster of economic activities (Scott, 2006)
⊛ dense networks of specialized producers vertically disintegrated that offer many options
to combine and generate innovation ideas, rules, products services...
⊛ Labor market developed around groups of interrelated firms, project-oriented activities
favor cross fertilization and diversification of competencies for workers
⊛ Creative field (urban and regional) "the locationally-differentiated web of production
activities and associated social relationships that shapes geographic patterns of
entrepreneurship and innovation in the new economy."(Scott)
⊛ Absorptive capacities (Cohen & Levinthal, 1990); creativity and innovation in cities enable to
create knowledge but also to develop a capacity to learn from external sources
⊛ Different from cultural cities: firms, communities and individuals that can create new
combinations, new rules...

4. ( Creativity in cities:
Dynamics
)
⊛ Innovation and creative intensity rely on a locally embedded dynamic process
embracing knowledge, creation, innovation and markets.
⊛ Individual and communities’ creative activities (cultural, technological, artistic...)
nourish innovation conducted in organizations
⊛ Innovative ideas, best practices developed and brought to market by organizations
(firms, universities...) can be transformed, exploited, reinterpreted by knowing and
creative communities
Knowledge Creativity Innovation
Individuals Networks Projects
S&T
MicroCommunities Communities Organizations
Users
Diversity and heterogeneity Standardization Markets
Society
Context Openness Appropriation (IP)

5. ( Montreal
)
Arts-Culture and Technology
Connections
Overall Overall Overall
Overall Creativity
Technology Talent Tolerance
Index
Ranking Ranking Ranking
1 -Seattle 1 4 1
2 -Boston 5 1 4
3 - Vancouver 3 5 3
4 - Montreal 7 8 1
5 - Los Angeles 2 7 6
6 - New York 10 2 7

6. ( Montreal:
Diversified Ecology of Knowledge
⊛ Industrial Clusters: Aeronautic,
)
Biotech, IT (large firms and
numerous SMEs)
⊛ Creative industries: video games,
advertising, performing Arts,
filmmaking, fashion
⊛ Developed Local science system
(major universities, +200 R&D
centers...)
⊛ developed artistic underground
How do these actors connect, learn and interact?

7. ( Places and spaces
⊛ Thematic districts and places have been created to support exchange
)
and cross fertilization.
⊛ La Tohu: place for circus arts training, creation, production and
performance; National Circus School; founded by CdS
⊛ SAT (Society for Arts and Technology): transdisciplinary center
dedicated to research and creation, production, education, and the
dissemination of digital culture. Located in the Quartier des Spectacles
⊛ e-commerce Place: building led by IBM and welcoming technology-
driven businesses
⊛ House of Jazz Festival: concert venue, restaurant, jazz resource center
and cinematheque
⊛ INGO innovation center: incubation and R&D center for high tech
companies located in the innovation district close to Tech School and
McGill University

8. ( Project and events
)
⊛ Montreal, City of Festivals: Jazz, Humor, Circus, International
Film, Fashion Week, etc
⊛ Montreal Mode (fashion map, sustainable style)
⊛ Culture Montreal: research, analysis and communication
activities.
⊛ Montreal UNESCO City of design (5th year)
⊛ 1st Canada-EU Collaboration Forum (may 2011)

9. ( Beyond traditional
(locational) success factors
⊛ Montreal as a diversified ecology of knowledge
)
⊛ Numerous Relational Spaces have been created to foster innovation and
cross fertilization (urbanism and interaction places
⊛ Things happen! In Montreal, numerous projects and events
⊛ favor a good circulation of knowledge and ideas; bring diversity and
⊛ contribute to City branding and promotion
⊛ Knowing communities (CoP, epistemic communities, artistic
communities...) as active units and channels for creation and innovation
⊛ Strong public leadership: local and regional authorities have played a
central role in the emergence of Montreal and Barcelona as major
creative cities