Toward a Sustainable Technopolis - Technopolis: Best Practices for Science and Technology Cities - page 176

Table 5 Key factors for a sustainable technopolis
Social capital is an absolutely critical success factor
Leverage the presence of universities
Balance government support with local initiative. Diversify funding sources
History matters. So do crises. Do not be fooled by cluster theory
Cultivate godfathers
Develop political savvy. Emphasize benefits to the many, not to the few
Try things that have never been tried before, but that leverage your region's strengths
Act
Never give up
Re-examine the logical and scientific foundations of ''sustainability''

Table 6 Shared prosperity initiatives compared with conventional aid efforts
Old Political Economy Approaches Newer Shared Prosperity Approaches

Paternalistic; one-way initiatives and flows Multilateral initiatives

Strategies imposed from top down Multiple networked initiatives

Driven by a single issue or problem Multidimensional, attacking related problems

Rigid Flexible

Expensive Inexpensive

Large-firm orientation Entrepreneurial orientation, with the

participation of large firms

Single industry/agency Multiple sectors, diversified funding

Initiating entity and receiving entity seen as
separate and independent

Presumes present or near-future
interdependence of participating regions

''Developed and undeveloped economies''
view. Strict accord with international
product life cycle theory

Acknowledges tech leader and tech follower
regions, but understands that useful
innovation can come from anywhere

Program-based Relationship-based; better able to respect and

leverage cultural differences

Large-agency programs are prone to
bureaucratic inertia and resistance to
change

Network initiatives attract innovators and
influencers in each region

Fixed or inappropriate metrics for success;
often discipline-bound

''Fuzzy goals''; interdisciplinary, multiple-
perspective, or transdisciplinary

Money-focused Financially responsible, but recognizes that

knowledge
and sense of empowerment are as important as
money to emerging regions

Source Phillips ( 2005 , 2006 )

References

City Club of Portland. (2000). Building a Sustainable Future for Portland. City Club of Portland
Information Report, November, 2000.
Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of
Sociology Supplement, 94, S95-S120.