The development of knowledge cities: the role of contextual factors and image policies

In recent years, many studies in the field of urban analyses and economic geography emphasized the role of the city as an engine of knowledge development and a privileged place for the generation of new ideas and innovations. On the one hand, they highlighted how the most advanced science and technology activities have progressively concentrated - thanks to cognitive resources, advanced services and qualified human capital - in the cities. On the other hand, these studies exalted the creative dynamics of the city, both for its capacity – that it has always had - to attract people and to be a place of exchange of information, and for its current propensity to promote cultural activities and tangible and intangible resources. Based on the hypotheses and empirical evidences provided by these studies, the present paper first focuses on the role of contextual factors (particularly social capital, international networks, research and high-tech infrastructures, urban amenities) to support the development of advanced and innovative activities. These factors also contribute to create the typical features and the "signs" of a city which bases its development on knowledge. Secondly, it takes into account how appropriate and shared image policies may help to define a vision for the development of the city and its international recognition, with the effect of producing a positive feedback not only for the city, but also for research and high technology activities operating in it. These perspectives have been used to analyze and compare some European case studies, which have led to extract some research results and policy implications.