PART II CONCEPTS
6 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS 6.4 MEDITERRÁNEO_TEC
6.4.2 Criteria of Landscape Urbanism for Mediterraneo TECs
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Both the selection of locations and the activities proposed for an innovative future of Mediterraneo TECs are based on criteria of strategic importance.They are combining local assets with locational characteristics of regional significance and international links. They form a dynamic urban project guided by landscape urbanism, connected to other areas of s trategic i mportance w ithin t he c ity, while becoming an integral part of a re gional infrastructure between complementary cities and the hinterland. They usually benefit f rom good access to international connections which enhance their dynamic evolution.
With these qualities the Mediterráneo_TECs a re expected to become world class spaces capable of attracting, training and maintaining the best talent.
From a worldwide survey the Fundacion Metropoli imputed that innovative cities were those with a great concentration of ICT employment, a high number of patents, and easily available venture capital. The success of what it conceived as Mediterráneo_TEC would be measured by similar criteria. The f ollowing characteristics a re qualifying Mediterráneo_TECs: • They are spaces for creativity and innovation, with universities and innovation parks • They foster the convergence between the arts, technology and recreation and they provide the most advanced digital technology infrastructure • They integrate architectural design with nature and they offer a wide typology of residential and work place designs • They apply energy efficiency and bio-climatic designs to architecture and adopt the latest generation of green technologies • They accommodate mixed uses and secure an environment of the highest quality • They benefit from an efficient network of communications, including motorways, rail and especially high speed rail, as well as sea links and international airports • The are endowed with a strong tourist infrastructure with beaches, marinas, golf courses, hotels, restaurants, other t emporary accommodation, leisure and cultural offers
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Overall they have the potential to diversify the economy and building on talent and new technologies.
A number of examples are described in different project chapters in Part III. So far, the Fundacion Metropoli has concentrated on five Mediterráneo_TECs, the Malaga - Marbella region (Chapter 8.1.7); Territorio M@C which encompasses the Murcia, Cartagena and Mar Menor region (Chapter 7.3); the Alicante - Elche axis (Chapter 9.6); the Turia Valley including the Valencia metropolitan area; and the Barcelona - Sitges region (Chapter 9.7).