Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference on Intellectual Capital

Knowledge Cities: A Portuguese Case
Katia Rodrigues and Eduardo Tomé
CLEGI Universidade Lusíada de Vila Nova Famalicão
lamisskatia@msn.com
Eduardo.tome@clix.pt
Abstract: The paper analyzes <strong>the</strong> question <strong>of</strong> knowledge cities in north <strong>of</strong> Portugal. In modern societies,
knowledge is seen as essential. To put toge<strong>the</strong>r cities and knowledge is also important because trends <strong>of</strong>
urbanity are virtually irreversible. In late 2008, half <strong>the</strong> world population lived in cities, according to a demographic
study by <strong>the</strong> ONU. In this paper, firstly, we describe <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ory and <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> knowledge cities relying on
various authors. We also explain <strong>the</strong> shift from knowledge city to intelligent city, because <strong>the</strong>re are some
differences between those notions. Usually it is thought that to be considered as knowledge city, a city needs
urban scale. But a study from 2007 contradicts this idea using <strong>the</strong> notion <strong>of</strong> <strong>European</strong> Smart Cities. That study
argues that <strong>the</strong> medium-sized cities can also be intelligent. Secondly, we apply <strong>the</strong> method <strong>of</strong> smart cities to <strong>the</strong>
city Braga. Given that <strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong> <strong>European</strong> Smart Cities does not disclose <strong>the</strong> numerical values assigned to
each city in <strong>the</strong> indicators only its ranking, it was necessary to establish a baseline, achieved by <strong>the</strong> inclusion in
<strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong> best and worst Smart City (Luxembourg and Ruse respectively). Braga is a medium size city located
in <strong>the</strong> North <strong>of</strong> Portugal. We conclude that Braga is not yet smart city and not even a knowledge city and also that
<strong>the</strong> city can win investing in Knowledge.
Keywords: knowledge cities, a Portuguese case
1. Introduction
In <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first decade <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 21 st century knowledge is already <strong>the</strong> main economic asset.
Knowledge implies prosperity. Countries are ranked by <strong>the</strong>ir income per head as well as by <strong>the</strong>ir
knowledge economy indicator. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore people tend to live in cities, and <strong>the</strong>refore knowledge
cities are an increasingly important economic topic. Portugal is a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eurozone, and is
dominated by Lisbon and Porto. However <strong>the</strong> country has also several medium scale cities, namely
Évora, Faro, Coimbra, Aveiro, Braga and Funchal. Those medium scale cities are essential for <strong>the</strong>
economic sustainability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country. In this paper we apply <strong>the</strong> relevant <strong>the</strong>ories about knowledge
cities to <strong>the</strong> Braga city.
The paper will be divided in three main sections. In <strong>the</strong> first section, <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> knowledge and
knowledge cities will be presented (2.1); fur<strong>the</strong>rmore types <strong>of</strong> knowledge cities will be enumerated
(2.2); afterwards <strong>the</strong> factors explaining knowledge cities are summarized (2.3); <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> difference
between knowledge cities and intelligent cities is explained (2.4); finally <strong>the</strong> explanation <strong>of</strong> existence
<strong>of</strong> smart cities is given (2.5). In <strong>the</strong> second section we describe <strong>the</strong> methodology <strong>of</strong> smart cities
(3.1.1),<strong>the</strong> cases we choose, namely Braga, Luxembourg and Ruse (3.1.2) and <strong>the</strong> respective
national setting (3.1.3); after a generic description <strong>of</strong> three cities included in <strong>the</strong> study (3.1.4 ) we
apply <strong>the</strong> methodology (3.1.5); . Finally, in <strong>the</strong> third section we present <strong>the</strong> conclusions (4.1), <strong>the</strong>
limitations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> study (4.2); and some inroads to fur<strong>the</strong>r research (4.3).
2. Theoretical background
2.1 Knowledge and knowledge cities
An economy based in Knowledge is <strong>the</strong> one that "encourages organizations and people to acquire,
create, disseminate and use more effectively, knowledge (codified or tacit) in order to obtain a greater
economic and social development” (Dahlman 2007). Knowledge can reach people, companies, public
organizations, <strong>the</strong> regions and affects <strong>the</strong> cities too. And <strong>of</strong> course, in <strong>the</strong> current economic setting,
sciences, technology, innovation, training <strong>of</strong> human resources are factors <strong>of</strong> economic growth and
regional development.
Cities are a reflection <strong>of</strong> who inhabits <strong>the</strong>m. Knowledge cities exist when people, companies, public
organizations and <strong>the</strong> surrounding region are based on knowledge. A city with no skilled human
resources, and with traditional companies with no prospect <strong>of</strong> future, will never be a knowledge city. In
that context, public investments are needed primarily to <strong>the</strong> creation <strong>of</strong> universities, and to <strong>the</strong>
planning <strong>of</strong> cities. But support for knowledge cities also must come from <strong>the</strong> private sector. Managers
give importance to innovation and to <strong>the</strong> creativity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> human resources <strong>the</strong>y manage.
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