Manresa Innov@, Alain Jordà Deputy Mayor Manresa City Council, Catalonia, Spain CAPTURE Network Meeting Manresa, Spain, October the 17 th 2006 Innovation development in a small town

Alain Jordà

Deputy Mayor

Manresa City Council, Catalonia, Spain

CAPTURE Network Meeting

Manresa, Spain, October the 17 th 2006

Some words about Manresa The new global situation Manresa Innov@, how did we do it? Facing the future. Some conclusions Index

Some words about Manresa

The new global situation

Manresa Innov@, how did we do it?

Facing the future. Some conclusions

Manresa Innov@, Some words about Manresa Innovation development in a small town 1

Some words about Manresa

Manresa, facts and figures 1.100 years of history (889 a.c.) A population of 73.000 inhabitants Immigration rate: 14% from 91 countries Outside the Barcelona metropolitan area (60 km) Its commerce and services have influence on a wide area (250.000 people) Industrial employment rate over the Catalonian average (23%) Compact town It has never been a political or religious capital.

1.100 years of history (889 a.c.)

A population of 73.000 inhabitants

Immigration rate: 14% from 91 countries

Outside the Barcelona metropolitan area (60 km)

Its commerce and services have influence on a wide area (250.000 people)

Industrial employment rate over the Catalonian average (23%)

Compact town

It has never been a political or religious capital.

Manresa’s history Gothic period (XIVth century) The Sèquia (water channel; 26 km and only 10m of drop) The Cathedral ( Seu ) and churches Baroque period (XVIIth century) The beginning of textile industry: silk and dyeing The industrialization (XIXth century) The 2 nd city in Catalonia Els Panyos (1826), the first of its kind in Europe in the age of big textile factories XXth century The textile crisis (1973) Restructuration towards metal and car industry

Gothic period (XIVth century)

The Sèquia (water channel; 26 km and only 10m of drop)

The Cathedral ( Seu ) and churches

Baroque period (XVIIth century)

The beginning of textile industry: silk and dyeing

The industrialization (XIXth century)

The 2 nd city in Catalonia

Els Panyos (1826), the first of its kind in Europe in the age of big textile factories

XXth century

The textile crisis (1973)

Restructuration towards metal and car industry

Innovation in Manresa in XXth Century Innovation is the goal! AUSA World’s larger manufacturer of dumpers trucks of up to 7 tons, off road forklift trucks of up to 3,5 tons and concrete mixers of up to 1m3. Tous Tous bear is an extraordinary phenomenon in the world of jewelry. Most Tous success is due to the ability to express everyone’s feelings in a piece of jewelry. Pujol Muntalà Pujol Muntalà manufactures speed gear reducers for industry in general, drives for garage doors and speed multipliers for wind energy. It has become a leader in its sector in Spain and is ranked as one of the main manufacturers in the world. Señor Made to measure suits through an industrial process is the company identity product. That allows Señor to combine tailor-quality garments and not-too-expensive prices.

Innovation is the goal!

Manresa Innov@, The new global situation Innovation development in a small town 2

The new global situation

Overview Globalization makes an interdependent world-wide economy (Europe is just a domestic market)… … and will lead to changes in city-rankings Knowledge , is the new essential raw material Innovation is a key element to compete Technology is just a tool for innovation Manresa needed a transversal cultural change A favourable environment is needed for businesses Can local public policies help to create good conditions for innovation and knowledge?

Globalization makes an interdependent world-wide economy (Europe is just a domestic market)…

… and will lead to changes in city-rankings

Knowledge , is the new essential raw material

Innovation is a key element to compete

Technology is just a tool for innovation

Manresa needed a transversal cultural change

A favourable environment is needed for businesses

Can local public policies help to create good conditions for innovation and knowledge?

Criteria that inspire us Access to tech has to be guaranteed to everybody. It’s not a matter of technology..., but a matter of INNOVATION! The quad-helix is important: administration, university, companies and society have to work together. Thinking Catalonia as a network Cooperation is essential to learn and strengthen the country

Access to tech has to be guaranteed to everybody.

It’s not a matter of technology..., but a matter of INNOVATION!

The quad-helix is important: administration, university, companies and society have to work together.

Thinking Catalonia as a network

Cooperation is essential to learn and strengthen the country

Only local economic development departments Because all local resources are essential to build a competitive local economy: City know-how, Big companies, Knowledge centres, Innovative people Because only the local administration is able to identify, involve and coordinate all these resources Because only the local administration may motivate, raise awareness, coordinate, disseminate and foster. Who can make policies to meet our towns and counties’ needs?

Only local economic development departments

Because all local resources are essential to build a competitive local economy: City know-how, Big companies, Knowledge centres, Innovative people

Because only the local administration is able to identify, involve and coordinate all these resources

Because only the local administration may motivate, raise awareness, coordinate, disseminate and foster.

Manresa Innov @, Manresa Innov@ (how did we do it?) Innovation development in a small town 3

Manresa Innov@

(how did we do it?)

Innovation Plan in Manresa the beginnings 1999. Mayor Jordi Valls appoints a Councellor for Universities and Technology 2000-2001. Participative development of local strategic plan for the Information Society 2001-2003. First steps Digital literacy programme (1€/lesson hour) Free Internet access points (over 100) 2003. Technology? Yes, but let’s focus on Innovation

1999. Mayor Jordi Valls appoints a Councellor for Universities and Technology

2000-2001. Participative development of local strategic plan for the Information Society

2001-2003. First steps

Digital literacy programme (1€/lesson hour)

Free Internet access points (over 100)

2003. Technology? Yes, but let’s focus on Innovation

Manresa, the starting point Politechnics University University Colleges Tourism University College Open University (online) University Chamber of Commerce Local Savings Bank Local foundation for Health services Public-Private company for urbanistic projects Metallurgical Enterprise’s Organization Empresa Technological Center Business Center

Politechnics University

University Colleges

Tourism University College

Open University (online)

Chamber of Commerce

Local Savings Bank

Local foundation for Health services

Public-Private company for urbanistic projects

Metallurgical Enterprise’s Organization

Changing the focus of attention: 2003. ICT? No, innovation! Innovators movement:www.innovadors.cc Supporting free software Identifying innovative companies Edition of Manresa Innov@ books Networking in Europe: CAPTURE Developing knowledge infrastructures How did we do it? (from 2003)

Changing the focus of attention:

2003. ICT? No, innovation!

Innovators movement:www.innovadors.cc

Supporting free software

Identifying innovative companies

Edition of Manresa Innov@ books

Networking in Europe: CAPTURE

Developing knowledge infrastructures

What has been done in Manresa? 2005: the town is moving… The Technological Center is becoming bigger and bigger. A new Technological Park appears on stage. Innovative people join the movement. University organises an Innovation Conference 2005 (90 participants) The local savings bank launches an Entrepreneurship Award . Economy conference devoted to Innovation Idensitat project (exploring the intersection among arts, citizenship and public spaces) A cohesion element was needed...

The Technological Center is becoming bigger and bigger.

A new Technological Park appears on stage.

Innovative people join the movement.

University organises an Innovation Conference 2005 (90 participants)

The local savings bank launches an Entrepreneurship Award .

Economy conference devoted to Innovation

Idensitat project (exploring the intersection among arts, citizenship and public spaces)

A cohesion element was needed...

What has been done in Manresa? 2005 Manresa’s innovation plan An external expert did a diagnosis from: Local economic reports Interviews to selected local innovation agents and proposed : To work in 5 main topics To develop 19 actions in 3 sectorial lines: metal industry, tourism and design manufactures a transversal one: fostering entrepreneurship

An external expert did a diagnosis from:

Local economic reports

Interviews to selected local innovation agents

and proposed :

To work in 5 main topics

To develop 19 actions in

3 sectorial lines: metal industry, tourism and design manufactures

a transversal one: fostering entrepreneurship

2005: Innovation Plan intervention lines Fostering entrepreneurship Design manufactures Industrial Systems Tourism

How do we face next steps in the Innovation Plan? A coordination commission (6 or 8 people) 4 (or 5) driving projects with a responsible person for each of them able to pull the development of a cluster Likely, a yearly assembly integrated by local innovation agents (> 50 people).

A coordination commission (6 or 8 people)

4 (or 5) driving projects

with a responsible person for each of them

able to pull the development of a cluster

Likely, a yearly assembly integrated by local innovation agents (> 50 people).

Key elements of Manresa’s Innovation Plan Manresa’s Town Council has been a pioneer in focusing on innovation and not only in economical promotion and difusion of ICT Methodology: discretion , involvement of innovation agents and council experts, several presentations of works in progress. Focusing on the process , not on the documents. The process was closely followed-up at the poilitical level with full agreement and support from the Mayor. A quick diagnosis was the starting point. Identification of priority actions Partial execution through a Technological Center .

Manresa’s Town Council has been a pioneer in focusing on innovation and not only in economical promotion and difusion of ICT

Methodology: discretion , involvement of innovation agents and council experts, several presentations of works in progress.

Focusing on the process , not on the documents.

The process was closely followed-up at the poilitical level with full agreement and support from the Mayor.

A quick diagnosis was the starting point.

Identification of priority actions

Partial execution through a Technological Center .

Manresa Innov@, Facing the future. Some conclusions Innovation development in a small town 4

Facing the future. Some conclusions

Manresa, what’s the future like? Technological Park ICT diffusion center Technological springboard Incubator Business Angels Network Alicia Science & Food project Junior artists’ space Rosa Oriol’s School (Design Manufactures) Politechnics University University Colleges Tourism University College Open University (online) University Chamber of Commerce Local Savings Bank Local foundation for Health services Public-Private company for urbanistic projects Metallurgical Enterprise’s Organization Companies Technological Center Business Center Microsoft Innovation Center

Politechnics University

University Colleges

Tourism University College

Open University (online)

Chamber of Commerce

Local Savings Bank

Local foundation for Health services

Public-Private company for urbanistic projects

Metallurgical Enterprise’s Organization

What we have learnt Each town is different. There’s a place for everyone . Evangelize is wasting time; we have to attract . New society is less associative (more individualist). New ways of motivation are needed. Go beyond the fine rain (supporting everybody unselectively) and add trickle irrigation (supporting selectively the best). E-administration is really important: it’s a way to lead by example, to make the society aware, and to spread the use of ICT. It’s important to communicate what we do. … .You make your path by walking (as Machado said)

Each town is different. There’s a place for everyone .

Evangelize is wasting time; we have to attract .

New society is less associative (more individualist). New ways of motivation are needed.

Go beyond the fine rain (supporting everybody unselectively) and add trickle irrigation (supporting selectively the best).

E-administration is really important: it’s a way to lead by example, to make the society aware, and to spread the use of ICT.

It’s important to communicate what we do.

… .You make your path by walking (as Machado said)

Thank you very much. More information at... You can get the newsletter Manresa Innov@ at: www.innovadors.cc And more at: www.ajmanresa.cat ciudadinnova.blogspot.com [email_address]

Thank you very much.

A model for a… ……..local innovation system Guarantee access & create environment Create awareness Train Accompany Consolidate (companies growth and commitment, new inputs) ( Raquel Egea at raquel.egea@upc.edu)

Guarantee access & create environment

Create awareness

Train

Accompany

Consolidate (companies growth and commitment, new inputs)

( Raquel Egea at raquel.egea@upc.edu)