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ENTI 2011 : Sustainable economics within the new culture of development | |||||||||||||||
Link: http://www.territorial-intelligence.eu/liege2011 | |||||||||||||||
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Call For Papers | |||||||||||||||
This call for papers for the 10th International Conference of Territorial Intelligence “Sustainable economics within the new culture of development” to be held in Liege from September 12th to 14th, 2011 defines the deadlines for submissions as June 1st, 2011 on the website http://www.territorial-intelligence.eu/liege2011.
This 10th international conference of territorial intelligence is organized jointly by SPI, development agency for the province of Liege (http://www.spi.be/) and the European Network of Territorial Intelligence ENTI. ENTI brings together 29 research teams in Europe and worldwide as well as 17 local players. This conference seeks to give prominence to public, private and associative actors of territories’ sustainable development through the four themes of this conference. The topic “The new culture of development” places itself in the general guidelines of this call for papers. The new culture of development is no longer based solely on the traditional economy but on a new economy based on the combination of the pillars of sustainable development (economic, social, environment, culture). We transition from a logic of economic development to a logical of multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral development, where the economy becomes a target among others, which raises the question of the role of economics in development, as well in theory as in practice. Sustainable development is also built through the exercise of innovative practices on a territory. These may be new forms of training, civic support, social economic or organization of cross-consultation among different sectors and actors (culture, society, social, economics ...). The declination of the concept of welfare is also included; it becomes a general objective for each territorial actor. Indeed, definitions of well-being are complex and can, moreover, be analyzed through an interdisciplinary approach. Furthermore, different educational and cultural backgrounds as well as living environment affect the notion of well-being and cause significant behavioral changes, both individual and collective, during the socio-ecological transition (define development models which are socially and environmentally right and sustainable). Finally, the societal and political stakes in the challenge of socio-ecological transition (use of natural resources, information/communications technologies, demographic forecasts, the distribution of incomes...) involve an awareness of this necessary evolution and through this some control over it and its effects. From this main theme of new culture of development arise territory observation and competitive and creative innovation. Knowing your territory is an asset. Whatever the scale of this territory (municipality, province, region), it is closely linked to the notion of governance which poses the problem of ‘interscalarity’. Observation methods for territories of different types (state, region, community...) are based on official statistics, often defined by economic policies. Available at the state, regional level and aimed only at policy makers, they are rare at finer scales (local and municipal). Territorial intelligence adds a cooperative and participatory dimension to the territorial observation. Public and private partnerships or multi-sectoral collaborations are now common tools for improved cooperation in the territory. Methods of territorial observation are turning towards participatory instruments of governance comprising policy makers, stakeholders including businesses, and individuals within clusters, neighborhoods, centers where they are involved in the process of analysis within shared diagnoses, co-production of data, and interpretations workshops. Behavior can evolve, innovation reflexes then become more present. These methods provide corporate and local authorities' decision-makers with a broader, more comprehensive vision, allowing them to make appropriate and innovative choices, taking into account all elements of the environment surrounding that decision. As for the citizens, they will be provided with local and global information, multiple social interactions and an emerging structure useful to the community. We can therefore speak of collective intelligence, available at the level of local authorities, businesses and citizens, which assesses the comparative advantages of cooperation and competition. As for innovation, it is a key concept of development. The analysis of all technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability development provides a better coordination of sectorial policies working on innovation. Research on technologies and activities with implications for sustainable development makes innovation a driving force of socio-ecological transition. Innovation is also central to the concerns relating to employment through, for example, the provision of creative workspace, the fulfillment of workers in employment sectors linked to the socio-ecological transition (reinforcing short circuits, new consumptions (organic, responsible...)). From an economic standpoint, in a society based on knowledge and driven by innovation, the concept of 'co-opetition’ (cooperation/competition) should demonstrate the convergence between economic growth and sustainable development as well as promote innovation as a factor encouraging sustainable development within businesses. As a key to economic and social transition towards better sustainable development, innovation is of vital interest in a conference on territorial intelligence. Territory observation and competitive and creative innovation are only possible through the existence of a spirit of partnership and transversal participation. Citizens, students, entrepreneurs, policy makers are becoming more aware of the fact that we need to act sustainably (in the sense of an enlightened reflection on social-economic-environment) and put to best use the resources (financial, creative ...) of all. Decentralization of power has brought with it the notion of consultation and consideration of advice from a greater number. Sustainable development and territorial governance give rise to a concept that evolves towards participation in the process. Participation of all to the richness of their territory (of any kind whatsoever) makes sense. Several dimensions can be discussed at our conference: participation of each type of actor, structuring of steering places, supra-local representation. Several levels can be affected: -at a local level, with several municipalities working together on small territories; -at the level of population center, illuminated by examples of urban communities or municipal communities throughout the world; -at the level of cooperation between larger territories (interregional, cross-border...). Four themes were identified in order to guide the communications that are expected to feed the thoughts of researchers and actors in the field. Specifically, territorial actors of the Province of Liege will be mobilized to interact with participants. Theme A Theme A will answer the question: “How to define the role of economics in the context of socio-ecological transition?” The conference is interested by papers answering the following sub-questions: -What adaptations are necessary for firms in order to be a part of the new economy of development and find a balance between economic, social and environmental interests? -How to make the notion of well-being the general objective of each territorial actor? -In a context of socio-ecological transition, what is required in order for a territory to develop in a sustainable manner and produce goods and services that contribute to this goal of sustainability? Theme B Theme B will answer the question: “How to establish a genuine process of informing the territory by incorporating as many players as possible?” The conference seeks papers that assist in the establishment of territorial observatories by answering the following questions: -How to organize on the territory a shared diagnostic of observation, a co-production of data, a place for a common interpretation of results and the implementation of actions? -How to build an interface between indicators, projects and monitoring of ongoing actions on a territory? Theme C The theme of communication C will answer the question: “How to create competitive and creative innovation over the territory?” The conference will favor papers meeting one of the three issues: -How to analyze all the technical, economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainability, in order to enable better coordination of sectoral policies working towards innovation (integrated innovation) within a territory? -What an innovation for employment (creative workplaces, fulfillment of workers, reinforcement of short circuits, new consumption ...)? -How to exploit the concept of co-opetition (cooperation/competition) in order to enable the convergence between economic growth and sustainable development? How to foster innovation as a factor encouraging sustainable development within companies? Theme D The last theme of the conference, D, will answer the question: “How to build a new type of participation/partnership between the territory players?” The conference seeks to foster communications illustrating good practices through the following questions: -How to restructure the participation of each actor in the territory, the steering places and the supra-communal representation? -What matters are to be treated at what scales (local level, population center level, interregional or cross-border territories’ level)? |
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