Guidelines for preparing your paper:

  • ‘Urban Innovation’ may include a range of various urban design, planning and governance interventions (including digital and non-digital technologies)
  • Focus on 1 or more relevant case studies – depending on the nature of the paper
  • Target audience:
    • Planning Ministers and Mayors
    • Planners
    • Other key stakeholders
  • Paper length: 1,000-2,000 words (2-6 pages, font size 10-12pts.)
  • Practical language (not academic style writing)
  • References (if used) and any additional information (websites, blogs, platforms, written sources) to be provided in the endnotes
  • Graphics and photos: the number is not fixed, i.e., it should follow the content of the main text. Technical requirements: resolution of 300 dpi and more, sent as jpeg/png/GIF format. In case of maps or illustrations, an editable file (a vector or .psd/photoshop file) plus the high-quality jpeg/png/GIF should be submitted. In case of graphs and tables, editable files (such as Excel spreadsheet) plus the jpeg files should be submitted. NB: Captions to be provided for each graphic.
  • Text should be submitted in a Word document format

Structure of the paper:

Introduction:

 Explain the main problem/challenge/aspiration as the starting point for creating a specific urban innovation approach. In other words: why was the intervention needed? What needs to be resolved in cities and why, for whom and what is the potential role for innovation?

Position the problem with a broader context – local (a brief description of the place), national (mainstream approaches dealing with the given problem), global (the international experiences with addressing the problem).

Main part:

 Describe the nature of the innovative approach. What is it about? What are its main features?

How was it created? If implemented, how was it applied? Case study examples welcome. Present them clearly and succinctly and include high resolution photos or diagrams with clearly labelled author, source.

Please include specificities / shortcomings / difficulties in creating and implementing the described innovative approach in a given setting (city, society).

The general evaluation of the approach success and its influence on the catchment area, city, region, who benefitted and why, what stakeholders and partnerships were involved, etc. Please make clear what the innovation elements are along the way (could be an idea, a digital tech approach, a partnership, an engagement process, etc).

Conclusion/Recommendations:

 The conclusion of the paper should be dynamic and provide reflections and key messages on the approach described and the value add of the innovation(s) used. Consider reflecting on:

What are the lessons learned? What should be improved for future use?

How is the approach going to evolve further? What steps should be considered?

Can the mentioned innovative approach be used in different socio-spatial frameworks?

The relevance of the case presented for other cities.

Clear set of final practical recommendations: takeaways for leaders. What is the value added of the innovation? How might it be adapted and re-purposed for triggering the innovation in another city? What specific actions would you recommend the city leaders should take in terms of policies, engagement process, resources, digital tools, to foster a different mind-set?

Deadline for abstract submission: June 18, 2021.

Submit your paper idea (abstract) online at https://forms.gle/dQ9SwAiPVjuwXTQj6 or download the Word document and send it to urbaninnovation@isocarp.org.

We thank you, in advance, for your valuable contribution to the CoP on Urban Innovation and the publication series.