Operationalizing the circular city model for naples' city-port: A hybrid development strategy

The city-port context involves a decisive reality for the economic development of territories and nations, capable of significantly influencing the conditions of well-being and quality of life, and of making the Circular City Model (CCM) operational, preserving and enhancing seas and marine resources in a sustainable way. This can be achieved through the construction of appropriate production and consumption models, with attention to relations with the urban and territorial system. This paper presents an adaptive decision-making process for Naples (Italy) commercial port's development strategies, aimed at re-establishing a sustainable city-port relationship and making Circular Economy (CE) principles operative. The approach has aimed at implementing a CCM by operationalizing European recommendations provided within both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework-specifically focusing on goals 9, 11 and 12-and the Maritime Spatial Planning European Directive 2014/89, to face conflicts about the overlapping areas of the city-port through multidimensional evaluations' principles and tools. In this perspective, a four-step methodological framework has been structured applying a place-based approach with mixed evaluation methods, eliciting soft and hard knowledge domains, which have been expressed and assessed by a core set of Sustainability Indicators (SI), linked to SDGs. The contribution outcomes have been centred on the assessment of three design alternatives for the East Naples port and the development of a hybrid regeneration scenario consistent with CE and sustainability principles. The structured decision-making process has allowed us to test how an adaptive approach can expand the knowledge base underpinning policy design and decisions to achieve better outcomes and cultivate a broad civic and technical engagement, that can enhance the legitimacy and transparency of policies

The balanced scorecard logic in the management control and reporting of small business company networks: a case study

The purpose of this paper is to assess and integrate the application of the balance scorecard (BSC) logic into business networks identifying functions and use that such performance measuring tool may undertake for SME’s collaborative development. Thus, the paper analyses a successful case study regarding an Italian network of small companies, evaluating how the multidimensional perspective of BSC can support strategic and operational network management as well as communication of financial and extra financial performance to stakeholders. The study consists of a qualitative method, proposing the application of BSC model for business networks from international literature. Several meetings and interviews as well as triangulation with primary and secondary documents have been conducted. The case study allows to recognize how BSC network logic can play a fundamental role on defining network mission, supporting management control as well as measuring and reporting the intangible assets formation along the network development lifecycle. This is the first time application of a BSC integrated framework for business networks composed of SMEs. The case study demonstrates operational value of BSC for SME’s collaborative development and success

Post-industrial areas on the lens of Systemic Design towards flourishing urban resilience

Contemporary worldwide economy has evolved into a global multidimensional process that manifests itself in cities through radical changes in human population densities and urban fabric. Such transformations are so rapid that cities are lag behind to cope with the demands of the market and population. Although this drastic shift has left many formerly manufacture/extractive cities with deprived and outdated urban fabric, this has resulted in the rise of post-industrial cities (ICLEI, 2018). Such accelerated changes have to lead the acknowledgment of these urban environments as challenging precincts to address sustainable development issues (Bulkeley et al., 2011). Parallel to this, focusing on the post-industrial legacy as ‘hubs’ for radical innovation towards more resilient cities (Ernstson et al., 2010a; Bulkeley and Broto, 2012). On that view, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) trace an relevant roadmap for the post-industrial urban environment. Taking a deeper overview of the SDG 11 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” and SDG 12 “Ensuring sustainable consumption and growth patterns”, cities will have to assemble for a long-term transition to a Circular Economy (CE) in order prevail over the systemic effects of deindustrialization. Taking into account that , “Cities are not actors; they are places where people and economic activities are concentrated; complex social, economic and physical systems” (Otto-Zimmermann, 2011), from a design point of view, it is very likely to undertake such areas with anticipatory approaches, such as design thinking, participatory and systemic perspectives (Buchanan, 1992). To prove how the combination of technology, design and social organization are generating new mechanisms to regenerate these deprived areas. These processes facing the local and global challenges on such precincts must enable a shift in the way they have been undertaken, it is important to introduce a profound holistic vision which can make more comprehensible the complexity of urban context (Grimm et al. 2000; Mehmood 2010; Newman 1999). “The more complex the network is, the more complex its pattern of interconnections, the more resilient it will be of our context” ( Capra, 1996). On this critical urban fabric, how can these scenarios reach an inclusive, sustainable and cohesive urban transitions, that can decrease future economic, environmental and social costs, but at the same time strengthening economic competitiveness? How can territorial thinking in post-industrial areas foster frameworks to address the current environmental and economic challenges of society? Such post-industrial areas regarded as living metabolism or “systems of systems” are on the need to search for resilience in order to tackle climate change and its economic impact. To empower urban transitions in those scenarios it requires design approaches on innovative strategies, services, and governance that support access to the regenerated areas while promoting social cohesion and flourishing local economies (Nevens, F, et al., 2013). Consequently, there is continuous support at the frontline of the cities agendas for a paradigm shift from the conventional linear to CE. As the aim of the CE is to regenerate the economy meaning to “keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, distinguishing between technical and biological cycles” (EMF, 2013). Given the current environmental and economic challenges of society, it is required innovative approaches to complexity on the urban environment, where the systemic one can be an efficient way to interpret and give solutions. On that view, cities will play an important role in a global transition to a CE (EMF, 2017). Therefore, to pave the way to an efficient urban transition it’s needed new anticipatory approaches on sustainable development from a holistic and systemic point of view that create cohesive and smooth transition (Barbero, 2017). To enable this processes, the Systemic Design Approach (SDA) offers determined instruments for territorial thinking that allows to visualize and design the flow of material and energy from one element of the system to another, transforming outputs of one process into input for another one in order to obtain zero emissions and generating resilient territories (Bistagnino, 2011). This methodology generates new relations among the entities of a territory, enabling the visualization of the hidden assets which will promote a proactive synergy among local actors. Reactivating all source of territorial resources in order to anticipate a local development (Barbero,2012). The creation of such relationship network promotes a general wellness improvement in the community, activating a cash flow between the various system participants: “the cultural and value systems are so spontaneously redefined, with direct environmental benefits” (Bistagnino,2011). The SDA acknowledges territories to be understood in a holistic overview, encouraging proactive collaboration among local actors and simultaneously generating innovative decision-making strategies to conceive future productive activities sustainably. Following that approach, the SDA is understood as one of the most effective expertise on enhance future CE strategies and to find innovative anticipative paths for urban transformation, economic restoration, and social cohesion. Achieving an effective CE vision which generates a wide range of services fostering local resources and therefore urban transitions (EMF, 2017). Such CE strategies are synthesized by the EMF on the ReSOLVE framework on six business actions: Regenerate, Share, Optimize, Loop, Virtualize and Exchange. Furthermore, translated by Prendeville et al., 2018 on a conceptual framework of a Circular City which delivers an overview from which to understand the ways CE could demonstrate in an urban environment. Based on the previous, to allow an effective approach towards Circular City framework (CCF), the SDA through a Holistic Diagnosis (HD) tool delivers an anticipatory instrument for territorial development, that delivers new starting point for system mapping (Battistoni, Giraldo Nohra, 2017). Enabling an overview of such complex urban scenarios, in order to trigger a new economic model that arises from the appraisal of the resources offered by on post-industrial cities. Through a transdisciplinary approach, it invites actors from different sectors such as governments, civil society, and industry to co-create CCF strategies undertaking bottom-up and top-down. Allowing all local stakeholders to pull different economic activities that coexist to deliver social and economic welfare, which are the impacts of the CE fostering urban transitions. On the quest of flourishing resilience in cities, How can territorial thinking in post-industrial areas foster CCF to address the current environmental and economic challenges of society? This paper aims to delve into a better comprehension on the SDA tool HD to identify CE strategies which are economically self-sustaining and which supply flourishing livelihoods for the economic, ecological and social regeneration of deprived urban areas result of deindustrialization processes. To exemplify this, it is intended to examine the case study of the post-industrial area of Mirafiori sud in Turin, Italy. Focusing on the results of HD study approached in the area which was tailored to the characteristics of the precinct to deliver systemic approaches for urban transitions within CCF strategies that can be cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience. As a result of this holistic overview, it is aimed to foster urban resilience by delivering innovative strategies addressing new economies shared between public authorities, civil societies, and industry/SMEs. Moreover, this paper broadens the results of the HD analysis on Mirafiori area on the lens of CCF at multiple levels such as : (a) On the technical level based on the components of the urban metabolism networks through which will result in the creation or redesign of local, circular supply chains (b) On the social level enabling citizen-based ownership of local resources on post-industrial areas. Through co-designing, co-creating, and co-implementing of the CCF in partnership with local stakeholders, who will participate in the development of new protocols for the integration of CE strategies. (c) On the economic level through systemic approaches boosting circular business models for products and services, the output will be a framework with strategies for post-industrial areas highlighting market opportunities and public-private partnership models for circular productive activities (d) At Policymaking level these results will aim to change local policies on post-industrial areas and, fostering a better governance and disseminate innovative solutions towards a CE. According to this, the need for territorial thinking on complex phenomena scenarios can be an efficient way to interpret and give solutions. In order overcome the systemic effects of de-industrialization and reactivate economic growth, post-industrial cities have had to reactivate their urban fabric through circular strategies, fostering a transition into a productive and stimulating place to live and work in that would restore residents’ sense of belonging and attract investment. Moreover, the SDA it is poised to be an instrument which benefits all stakeholders leading them to paths where all can reach an effective sustainable development creating new scenarios of economic profit and cooperation (Barbero, 2017). Eventually, this holistic approaches on post-industrial precincts such as Mirafiori shall foster urban transitions and evolve the current planning and policy environment, as a result, the design and implementation of city development strategies on CE. On that context, this expertise pretends to turn into a role model methodology for cities with industrial legacy. Fostering local actors towards sustainable development and better governance, disseminating innovative solutions to reinvent and shape more cohesive post-industrial cities

Building Digital Foundations: A Course of Action Towards a Circular Construction Industry : An Exploratory Case Study

This thesis aims to explore the potential for digital platform ecosystems to support the development of the circular economy in the Norwegian construction industry. While there is a general understanding among scholars and industry professionals that digitalization can enable circularity, the existing literature on the intersection of these two concepts is limited. Existing literature does not adequately address the potential for using digital platforms to promote circularity across industry value chains and achieve the goals of a circular economy. To gain a holistic perspective on this potential, the thesis is based on an exploratory case study involving clients, consultants, architects, and contractors in the construction industry. The study aims to contribute to existing literature by developing a conceptual framework linking the concept of a circular economy to digital platform ecosystems, as well as by exploring why and how such a platform ecosystem can support the transition to circularity in the construction industry. The study's findings are twofold. Firstly, the study suggests the need for an improved organization of the value chain actors on digital platforms to facilitate iterative collaboration on project-level. Particularly, we identified that the implementation of circularity in the industry depend on frequent involvement of contractors and consultants. Moreover, in order to succeed in the transition towards circularity, we argue that the industry needs an industrywide platform to create a market for reused materials. Therefore, our study suggests that the industry requires a multidimensional platform with both project-specific and industry-wide components. Secondly, we identified three fundamental attributes that need to be present on a digital platform ecosystem for circularity: flexibility, data accumulation, and interaction. Based on these findings, we reassess our preliminary framework linking the circular economy to digital platform ecosystems and describe how the fundamental attributes can support this relationship. Overall, our thesis contributes to a better understanding of how industry actors can be organized on digital platform ecosystems to support circularity. In addition, the thesis provides the fundamental attributes necessary to configure a digital platform ecosystem for circularity in the construction industry.nhhma

Analysis of the evolution of the sharing economy towards sustainability. Trends and transformations of the concept

The Sharing Economy has been emerged in recent years as a trend with high growth potential by showing itself to be an innovative model for creating products, services and relationships based on sustainable consumption. The Sharing Economy has emerged as a multidimensional and multidisciplinary concept, which initially only covered areas of the economy and social sciences and which later experienced growth in business, urban planning, tourism, information technology and digital science (industry 4.0) or engineering. This has transformed its development from an economic opportunity to a form of decentralised, equitable and sustainable economy with the creation of new initiatives and companies that have reduced environmental impact by decreasing the use of natural resources. The present study aims to evaluate the evolution of the discourse and the way research has progressed in this incipient sphere of collaborative consumption up to the present day by means of an in-depth analysis of scientific production through bibliometrics and network analysis techniques with the VOSviewer© software and the complete database of publications obtained from the Web Of Science (2152 publications). It also includes the detailed examination of the most relevant bibliographic reviews on Sharing Economics, as well as the main publications on bibliometric analysis. The article evaluates key words, sources, authors, citations, organizations, categories, and countries using various bibliometric techniques. Finally, in the results 5 clusters of thematic categories are obtained where a change in the trend of publications towards the field of clean and green technology is reflected, forming in recent years an agglutinating nucleus of all the disciplines in which “sustainability” acts as the backbone of scientific production. This is a positive development in cleaner production, where institutions and authors from the USA and Europe have risen to the top of the ranking of publications and impact. At a global level, the current commitment to research for the development of accessible, equitable and sustainable products and services is reflected.Premio Mensual Publicación Científica Destacada de la US. Escuela Politécnica Superio

Co-creation – a facilitator for circular economy implementation? A case study in the kitchen industry

Although the concept of Circular Economy (CE) has gained significant attention in business and academia, knowledge and strategies on how to bring circularity into practice still remains limited. Most research efforts are theoretical and focus on waste handling, resource use and environmental impact. Only few studies focus on the practical implementation of CE. There is a lack of research on practical cases, where both the design process and involved stakeholders are considered. This paper reports on a case study carried out in collaboration with a Scandinavian kitchen manufacturer, to increase the understanding on how co-creation strategies can contribute to the implementation of circular economy in the kitchen industry. Based on three workshops followed by five interviews with workshop participants, insights have been gained regarding barriers and opportunities for implementation of circular economy in small manufacturing firms. Results indicate that the co-creation workshops have led to an increased understanding of CE and change of attitude towards CE among the participants

Challenges and trends in sustainable corporate finance: A bibliometric systematic review

Sustainable corporate finance is an attractive field of study in sustainability literature; however, the literature lacks systematic bibliometric analysis that provides a comprehensive review to clarify state-of-the-art sustainable corporate finance and that discusses new opportunities and potential instructions for further studies. To address this gap, this study adopts a literature review, bibliometric analysis, network analysis and co-wording technique to systematically investigate the Scopus database. In total, 30 keywords listed at least three times are used and are divided into six clusters considering six fields of research, namely, corporate finance in corporate sustainability, sustainable competitive advantages, sustainable stakeholder engagement, circular economy, sustainable corporate finance innovation and risk management and sustainable supply chain ethics. This study contributes to examining the sustainable corporate finance bibliometric status to provide directions for future studies and practical accomplishment. The sustainable corporate finance knowledge gaps are (1) corporate finance in sustainability; (2) sustainable competitive advantages; (3) sustainable stakeholder engagement; (4) circular economy; (5) sustainable corporate finance innovation and risk management; and (6) sustainable supply chain ethics. The knowledge gaps and future directions are also discussed

A holistic perspective

The phenomenon of globalization and the need to combat the harmful effects of the recent financial and economic crisis associated with rapid urban development and stagnant economic growth in countries/regions/cities seen in the last decade worldwide, has led to a paradigmatic change in the view of cities’ role in urban economic development. This profound change means that cites are faced with a complex and enormous challenge, set out in the European Union’s 2020 Strategy based on the premises of long-term intelligent, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. However, these premises imply that models of economic growth and their traditional determining factors are altered, and so development of the so-called new economy is in evidence. This means that the new economy proposed by the European Union, besides being based on traditional factors generating economic growth, has come to include a new own resource, the intangibility and soft and hard amenities of urban places, or cities, as factors associated with cities’ urban economic development. The changes in regional and public policies linked to repositioning cities have aroused great interest in the academic world and in other public and private agencies, leading to the emergence of countless constructs, concepts and models aiming to contribute to understanding of this global phenomenon. In this context, the concepts of creativity, intelligence and urban sustainability, as inseparable dimensions of cities, have gained relevance in studies on cities, particularly regarding their measurement. Consequently, a series of models and indices have been developed aiming to answer the question of how to assess cities’ performance around these dimensions. This proliferation of studies has not exhausted the topic, as gaps remain to be filled, particularly those involving great complexity by interlinking various constructs such as urban networks, besides creativity, intelligence and urban sustainability in cities. In this scenario, the general aim of the research presented here is to propose a holistic, multidimensional model for Current Creative Cities (CCCs) and its empirical validation through constructing a Composite Index for their holistic performance. The broad spectrum of this objective is clear, and so it was divided in six specific objectives, namely: 1) to map the most studied topics concerning networks and the performance of creative cities, through a bibliometric analysis; 2) to present a proposal of a multidimensional design for CCCs and the respective indicators to measure their performance; 3) to validate empirically the model proposed for each dimension proposed per se, and subsequently, for all the dimensions of the holistic model as a whole; 4) to demonstrate that networks are predictors of CCCs’ holistic performance; 5) to propose a taxonomy for the holistic performance of CCCs and 6) to analyse the effect of living labs on the economic growth of CCCs. 5) to propose a taxonomy for the holistic performance of CCCs; To respond to these aims a mixed research methodology was adopted, since quantitative and qualitative approaches complement each other, particularly concerning internal and external validity, using different research techniques of a deductive and inductive nature, as explained below. In Chapter 2, responding to the first objective, the bibliometrics revealed the most studied topics, besides exponential interest in studying creative cities and networks together. It was also clarified that creativity can be associated with intelligence and urban sustainability in CCCs, that there is still a need to construct a holistic, transversal model for these dimensions, and that this should allow measuring performance and the effect of networks on this. The result obtained in this study directed the research to Chapter 3, i.e., to the second aim established, and so a multidimensional, holistic model is presented to measure CCCs’ holistic performance. With the answers to the first objectives defined, Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 aim to provide the response to the third and fourth objectives, presenting individual Composite Indices and for the Holistic Performance of CCCs, obtained through multivariate statistical techniques – Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). These indices were validated empirically in Portugal. The results obtained and their discussion revealed that strategies directed to implementing creative, intelligent and sustainable measures are visible in economic growth in Portugal, despite the need to continue to develop and spread the structural and conjunctural bases through public policies aiming to overcome persisting weaknesses. Therefore, the methodological tool presented here is a bonus for local authorities and their public policies. The demographical, spatial and territorial variations of Portuguese towns and cities led to developing a taxonomy of their holistic performance, to respond to the fifth objective defined by using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, presented in Chapter 8. The results show that improved holistic performance is only achieved when taking all the axes/dimensions of CCCs as a synergetic whole and as a cyclical consequence rather than per se. Finally, these results were complemented in Chapter 9 (sixth objective) by the case study method applied to the town of Fundão, which demonstrated it is not enough to activate the means for citizens to be dynamic actors in improved holistic performance, as current public policies must be strategically managed and promoted by reducing the financial costs involved. The studies presented here allowed presentation of a Composite Index for the Holistic Performance of Portuguese towns and cities, which with the due adaptations to the context analysed can be applied generally. This instrument forms the main contribution of this research, which is of an innovative and relevant nature by being based on urban networks as inductors and catalysts of improved urban economic growth in cities/local authorities. It is also shown that when cities include networks in their public policies, the intangible returns obtained benefit their holistic performance indirectly. Finally, Chapter 10 describes the limitations of the studies presented and makes general conclusions and contributions with implications for theory and practice.O fenómeno da globalização e a emergência de se contornar os efeitos nefastos da recente crise financeira e económica associados ao rápido desenvolvimento urbano e à estagnação do crescimento económico dos países/regiões/cidades a que se assistiu na última década em todo o mundo, originou que a visão do papel das cidades no desenvolvimento económico urbano fosse alterada de modo paradigmático. Esta alteração profunda significa que atualmente as cidades estão perante um desafio complexo e enorme, o qual se consubstanciou na Estratégia 2020 da União Europeia que assenta nas premissas de um crescimento económico inteligente, inclusivo e sustentável a longo prazo. Contudo, estas premissas implicaram que os modelos de crescimento económico e que os seus fatores determinantes tradicionais fossem alterados, pelo que se tem assistido ao desenvolvimento da denominada nova economia. Isto significa que a nova economia preconizada pela União Europeia, para além de assentar nos fatores tradicionais geradores de crescimento económico, passou a incluir um novo recurso próprio, a intangibilidade e as amenidades soft e hard dos lugares urbanos, vulgo cidades, como fatores associados ao desenvolvimento económico urbano das cidades. As mudanças das políticas económicas regionais e públicas ligadas ao reposicionamento das cidades despertou um elevado interesse no meio académico e em outras agências públicas e privadas, pelo que surgiram inúmeros construtos, conceitos, modelos que visavam contribuir para a compreensão desse fenómeno global. Neste contexto, os conceitos de criatividade, de inteligência e de sustentabilidade urbana, enquanto dimensões indissociáveis das cidades, ganharam relevância nos estudos sobre cidades, particularmente no tocante à mensuração da sua performance. Por conseguinte, uma bateria de modelos e de índices têm sido desenvolvidos visando responder à questão de como avaliar a performance das cidades em torno destas dimensões. Esta proliferação de estudos não esgotou a fertilidade desta temática, pela que ainda persistem lacunas por colmatar, em particular aquelas que envolvem elevada complexidade ao interligarem vários construtos, como as redes urbanas, para além da criatividade, inteligência e sustentabilidade urbana nas cidades. Neste cenário, o objetivo geral da investigação aqui apresentada passa pela proposta de um modelo holístico e multidimensional para as Currents Creative Cities (CCCs) e a sua validação empírica através da construção de um Índice Compósito para a performance holística das mesmas. É clarividente o largo espectro deste objetivo, pelo subdividiu este em seis objetivos específicos a saber: 1) Mapear as temáticas mais investigadas sobre as redes e a performance das cidades criativas, através de uma análise bibliométrica; 2) Apresentar uma proposta de desenho multidimensional para as CCCs e respetivos indicadores para a mensuração da performance das mesmas; 3) Validar empiricamente o modelo proposto para cada uma das dimensões propostas per si e, posteriormente, para o conjunto da todas as dimensões de modo holístico; 4) Demonstrar que as redes são preditores da performance holística das CCCs; 5) Propor uma taxonomia para a performance holística das CCCs; e 6) Analisar o efeito que as living labs têm no crescimento económico das CCCs. Para dar resposta a estes objetivos seguiu-se uma metodologia de investigação mista, uma vez que a abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa são complementares uma da outra, nomeadamente no tocante à validade interna e externa, em que se utilizaram diferentes técnicas de investigação de natureza dedutiva e indutiva, como explicado a seguir. Assim, o capítulo 2 responde ao primeiro objetivo, a bibliometria revelou os tópicos mais estudados, para além de um interesse exponencial em estudar as cidades criativas e as redes em conjunto. Também se clarificou que a criatividade é passível de associação à inteligência e à sustentabilidade urbana nas CCCs, que persiste a urgência de se construir um modelo holístico e transversal a estas dimensões e que possibilitem que se mensure a performance e o efeito das redes nessa. Assim, a resposta obtida neste estudo direcionou a investigação para o capítulo 3, ou seja, para o segundo objetivo estabelecido, pelo que se apresenta um modelo multidimensional e holístico para a mensuração da performance holística nas CCCs. Ainda com a resposta aos primeiros objetivos definidos, os capítulos 4, 5, 6 e 7 visam ilustrar a resposta aos terceiro e quarto objetivos, em que se apresentaram Índices Compósitos individuais e para a Performance Holística das CCCs, obtidos pelo uso de técnicas estatísticas multivariadas – Análise Fatorial Exploratória (AFE) e Análise dos Componentes Principais (ACP). Estes índices foram validados empiricamente em Portugal. Os resultados obtidos e a sua discussão revelaram que as estratégias direcionadas para a implementação de medidas criativas, inteligentes e sustentáveis são visíveis no crescimento económico em Portugal, porém ainda urge que se continue a germinar e disseminar as bases estruturais e conjunturais através de políticas públicas que visem ultrapassar as fragilidades que ainda persistem. Deste modo, a ferramenta metodológica aqui apresentada é uma mais valia para os municípios e suas políticas públicas. A disparidade demográfica, espacial e territorial das cidades em Portugal induziu ao desenvolvimento de uma taxonomia de performance holística para as mesmas, dando resposta ao quinto objetivo definido pela utilização da Análise Hierárquica de Clusters (AHC), apresentado no capítulo 8. Os resultados mostram que as melhorias na performance holística só são conseguidas quando se encaram todos os eixos/dimensões das CCCs como um todo sinérgico e como uma consequência em ciclo e não per si. Por último, estes resultados foram complementados no capítulo 9 (sexto objetivo) pelo método de estudo de caso aplicado à cidade do Fundão, o que possibilitou que se demonstrasse que não basta acionar os meios para que os cidadãos sejam atores dinâmicos na melhoria da performance holística, pois é premente que as atuais politicas públicas sejam estrategicamente geridas e alavancadas pela redução dos encargos financeiros afetos a essas politicas. Os estudos aqui apresentados possibilitarem a apresentação de um Índice Compósito para a Performance Holística das cidades portuguesas, que com as devidas adaptações ao contexto em análise é passível de aplicação generalizada. Este instrumento constitui o principal contributo desta investigação e que assume um carácter inovador e pertinente ao ter como pedra basilar as redes urbanas como indutoras e catalisadoras da melhoria do crescimento económico urbano das cidades/municípios. Mostra-se ainda que as cidades que integram as redes nas suas políticas públicas obtêm retornos intangíveis que indiretamente beneficiam a sua performance holística. Finalmente, no capítulo 10 são explanadas as limitações dos estudos apresentados e tecidas as conclusões gerais e outros contributos com implicações para a teoria e para a prática

A Cross-disciplinary, cross-organizational approach to sustainable design and product innovation in the aluminum industry

Aluminum is a promising sustainable and industrial resource that provides strong, lightweight structures with complex geometric possibilities, a high recovery rate in the recycling process, and low-emission production when produced by hydropower. Design and product innovations are enabling aluminum to increasingly replace steel in many industrial sectors (such as construction, automotive, and furniture), improving environmental (e.g., reduction of CO2 emission in transport) and financial (e.g., increased circularity and value creation) performance. However, key knowledge of the aluminum value chain is concentrated among the different actors. For instance, downstream actors possess a high level of technical expertise in the metallurgical properties and processing of aluminum, and they are typically situated a long distance from the end market or end user are unaware of the end user’s current and future needs. Investments in and investigations of new aluminum alloys, treatments, and machines are accompanied by high financial and time risks. Cross-disciplinary, cross-organizational collaborations might facilitate design and product innovations, including value creation and sustainability aspects and reducing financial and time risks. There is limited literature on how the different actors in the aluminum value chain should collaborate and which methods they should apply to increase sustainable design and product innovation. Therefore, this study applies a multiple case research approach to identify the benefits, enablers, and barriers of sustainable design and product innovation. Based on the findings, a sustainable design and product innovation framework was developed, highlighting actors, collaboration, and methods applied at different innovation project stages. The introduced approach supports the actors in the aluminum value chain to efficiently introduce sustainable design and product innovations to new and existing markets.publishedVersio