Università e innovazione nelle aree periferiche: dinamiche di sviluppo, inclusione sociale e progetti di rigenerazione urbana

The role of universities and innovative activities in the dynamics of territorial development in the most advanced countries and in the central areas are widely recognized in the scientific literature and by policy makers. On the other hand, their ability to trigger significant changes in peripheral areas and to mitigate the imbalances at different territorial scales has received less attention. With regard to global peripheries, investments in research and innovation can contribute to reduce the distances between advanced countries and emerging ones. At the national level, universities can enhance local specificities of peripheral areas, promoting new ideas and projects, in order to limit marginalization processes and decrease the gap with metropolitan areas. Finally, on an urban scale, universities can be agents of urban transformation and redevelopment of marginal areas. Starting from this multi-scale perspective, the work focuses on the role of the university in peripheries. In the empirical analysis, the case study of the Universidad politécnica salesiana (UPS) in Ecuador is examined. This university is carrying out development actions in the field of scientific research and international cooperation, collaborative projects with local actors, urban and social regeneration practices, in particular in the city of Guayaquil