PART I ABOUT THE FUNDACIĂ“N METRĂ“POLI
1 INTRODUCTION 1.4 INVESTIGATION - INNOVATION INCUBATION
1.4 INVESTIGATION - INNOVATION INCUBATION Based in Madrid (Spain), the Fundacion Metropoli was conceived at the University of Pennsylvania, USA where Eisenhower Fellowships provided the network and inspiration to set up lasting collaboration agreements with many institutions around the world. As no single institution can resolve the complexity of t he globalising world, a k ey characteristic of the Fundacion Metropoli is to work in cooperation with global networks of excellence. It seeks partners from a wide range of places and professional backgrounds to generate knowledge t owards a n ew spatial culture. It s action-oriented philosophy is guiding its understanding of the dynamic of cities, the connections with their surroundings, and their role in futureoriented a ctivities of 21 st c entury society. It s overarching aim is a better quality of life enhanced by the active participation of those living, working, playing and learning in cities. A key vocation of the Fundacion Metropoli is to constitute a cultural meeting place for knowledge creation and sharing. Having initiated on-going joint ventures, such as 'Learning from Cities' it is hosting cooperative projects, international workshops, other knowledge sharing events, and is disseminating them through publications and presentations at international events. With these activities the Fundacion Metropoli is undertaking new approaches t o sustainable development, drawing on research, innovative ideas, city design and implementation processes, devised by its own team as well as in cooperation with its networks of excellence. The approach of the Fundacion Metropoli is practice oriented. In combining spatial development projects, networks of collaborators and funding organisations it is able to incubate its creative ideas and convert t hem into e xperiments and realities on the ground. Its multicultural, actionoriented exchanges and cooperative endeavours
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enable the Fundacion Metropoli to harness synergies b etween re search re sults, i nnovative projects and purpose designed institutions capable o f m obilising t he i mplement at ion o f development strategies adapted to the environment for the well being of people. The three pillars of the activities of the Fundacion Metropoli are research, innovation and incubation. Its research HUB ('Investigacion') contributes to knowledge creation and sharing; its LAB ('Innovacion') p roduces i nnovative d esigns; a nd 'ASMOA' ('Incubacion') - the incubator associated with the Fundacion Metropoli - generates a new breed of institutions to transform ideas into practice. Together the three pillars contribute to a new spatial culture for the sustainable development of cities and city-regions. Constant cross fertilisation connects the three pillars and constitutes the core approach of the Fundacion Metropoli. It consists of incorporating research results into innovative projects, using new institutional forms to realise projects initiated and conceived by the Fundacion Metropoli, and providing f eedback f rom experimentation and implementation processes into research for further exploration of innovative approaches to spatial design for cities and regions. The various activities under each of the three main pillars are summed up below. Research and innovation are presented in greater detail in Part II.