Innovative Clusters in Progress, the Example of Thermi Case: Urban planning theory and practice

Abstract

The concept of "Smart city" (or "Intelligent city") is very important nowadays, for the comprehension and rapid implementation of innovative digital services based on the Internet. This allows dealing with modern developed cities challenges, helping to achieve a better quality of life in the future. The approach of intervention planning models in suburban areas, exploring digital technologies is the alternative for a developed city to become productive, creative, and therefore "smart". There are plenty research areas, but the main ones are: 1) Cities and regions of Innovation, 2) Creative Clusters, Areas of Expertise, Science and Technology Parks, "Technopoles", 3) Regional Innovation Systems and Strategies, 4) Areas of Digital Innovation and Smart Cities. The interest of the research is located in the east side of the city of Thessaloniki, in Greece. There are three points of interest: 1) the Mediterranean Cosmos, commercial center / Mall, 2) the NOESIS, cultural center and 3) the small town of Thermi. The objectives of the study include; firstly, to reduce the centrality of Mediterranean Cosmos and to guide visitors to the other two poles, secondly, to redefine the nature of the region by increasing its urbanity, and finally, to make the existing digital technologies of development and planning productive.