Innovation districts as strategic urban projects: the emergence of strategic spatial planning for urban innovation

This paper contributes to the emerging research on innovation districts (IDs) by conceptualizing them as strategic urban projects. IDs connect innovative activities their spatial foundations and thus provide a territorial framework for planning efforts. The extant literature IDs, focusing mainly ID characteristics placemaking, has failed acknowledge that development requires an integrated approach realize so-called new union between form function, which is often executed via Integrated planning, discussed in emphasizes coordination both range of stakeholder interests administrative sectors scales. This, turn, rooted path-dependent connections diverse organizations. A case study examines gradual adoption while Turku Science Park area city Turku, Finland, was being transformed into ID. It demonstrates rise rationale contemporary economic development, one strategically envisions objectives. offers lessons academic policy debates underscoring competence building planning.