A new social capital to smart regions

One of the most challenging trends that we will face in the coming years has to do with the development of smart regions that are focused on innovation and competitiveness.

Smart regions will be living labs where municipalities, companies and universities develop open innovation and collective intelligence agendas that will be the basis for a new standard of trust between citizens and the institutions in an open and collaborative society.

They will also be the platform to test and develop the roots of a new social capital context and concept that is focused on more collaborative networks with a broader expansion in international areas. These regions will be the point of departure for a new agenda of an economy of value that can develop a sustainable consolidation that will enable a better individual and collective future.

Citizens and firms have a central role to play towards a new attitude that is connected to the creation of value and focus on creativity. The reason for this is that in a time of change, citizens and firms can’t wait.  They must confirm themselves as actors in a very demanding world by introducing into society and the economy a capital of trust and innovation that is essential to central leadership in the future.

The actors from these regions should be global and capable of driving the social matrix to sell it as a mobile asset on the global market. This is the basis of a new social capital that should be the driver of effective change in our common society.

This social capital agenda in the smart regions must be supported by some strategic proposals that demand a new operational agenda from all the political, economic, and social actors. Citizens and firms must know how to integrate and social cohesion needs to be done with the constructive participation of citizens to create a necessary and effective attitude of mobilization for this effort.

Education must be the right tool for this strategic ambition for smarter regions that can attract the best talent for a developed community.

Universities and companies must perform a new strategic partnership that is centered on the objectives of added value, creativity, and knowledge. This is the basis for the future agenda of the smart regions.

The economy and society still a chance to implement an agenda of innovation, where a set of opportunities can be developed on a broader scale and in a participative way.

The excellence of the smart regions will be judged by their effective commitment to being participative actors.  The development of strategic projects like the Poles of Competitiveness, Clusters of Innovations, and Knowledge Cities and Regions are an effective confirmation that the basis for a new agenda in the economy depends on the capacity of effective smart regions.

Confidence in developing the capacity of local actors to perform an effective agenda of change that we need to ensure our social capital for our strategic options is key to this agenda. Citizens and institutions have a unique identity based on a strong culture, and culture is a unique asset. Citizens and institutions must be able to involve other global partners in the construction of integrated projects that are focused on the development of culture as a driver for development. The reinvention of culture is, itself, a very innovative way to involve more global actors in this project for the future.

Smart regions must be special locations where people know who they are and have a strong commitment to the values of freedom, social justice, and development. This is the strategic basis of an innovative social capital that will give smart regions a new reason to commit to our common future agenda.