Advanced Design for Territorial Innovation and Development - Projects for the City of Mantua

Now, innovation is given increasing attention in all fields: in industry as in the cultural sector, in private companies and at the level of public institutions, on markets but also in the scientific and technological research. The "philosophy of innovation" slightly took the role of economic development engine, as well as of cultural growth lever, competitiveness factor and driving force of social transformation processes. This contribution uncovers the results of an investigation carried out by a research group from Politecnico di Milano that since more than a decade is working with Mantua’s administration on planning, design and governance processes. This was an endeavour both, theoretical and experimental, examining the innovation dynamics in their action at the level of complex projects aimed at promoting and supporting the territorial requalification and growth - complex multi-level issue resulted from the actual need to cope with the challenges of the new economy. Given the absence of a “traditional” client, this paper is included in the fourth section of the conference entitled "Design without market". Actually, this situation is owed to the large number of participating entities (universities, research centres, cultural associations, trade associations, government departments and private companies) and to the consequent need to convey the potential of this social richness through project exploration with the involvement of communities of practice and creative communities. The first part of this paper describes the general model of innovation management developed by these scholars based on their project experience. The second part is dedicated to some innovation processes led by the research group in various areas of Mantua Province. These are differing in scale, complexity and methods, but share a particular advanced dimension of design that stays in having built a bottom-up design demand that stakeholders were feeling, but were not able to express. Mantua Innocenter referred to the efficient reconversion of the small companies in the Mantua province challenged by the harsh economic crisis. The Commerce and the City of Culture project explored the possibilities to valorise the commercial area of Mantua’s old city centre by enhancing its significant architectural heritage. The Regional Strategic Marketing Plan for Oltrepò Mantovano (O.Ma.) aimed at supporting the local administrations of Oltrepò Mantovano to capitalise their cultural heritage as a new economy base.