Program supports the creation of innovative urban environments

Initiative opens with proposals for Curitiba, to be implemented over the next 20 years

The Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná ´resented in the evening of Wednesday (10), at the close of first day of CICI2010, the "Innovative Cities" program, a set of actions for the short, medium and long terms that aim to create urban environments favorable to innovation and sustainable business. The city of Curitiba was chosen to open the program, within the project "Curitiba 2030".

"We are fulfilling our role of providing infrastructure so that innovation can be expressed by all sectors of society," said the president of Fiep, Rodrigo da Rocha Loures. He explained that the program was based on prospective studies carried out internally, which indicated the need to work with cities as environments that decisively influence the sustainable industrial development. "Innovative companies are developing innovative environments. Therefore, innovative sustainable companies need innovative sustainable environments. This has become our challenge," he stated.

The "Innovative Cities" program is twofold. One is the "Cities 2030," which began with Curitiba and already have proposals for long-term actions. The other is the Local Development Project, also in progress, which seeks to mobilize and empower communities to build their own sustainable development. 

Innovation landmark - Started last year, the project "Curitiba 2030" was developed by Fiep in partnership with the City Hall of the capital and Foundation OPTI (Prospective Observatory of Industrial Technology of Spain). The process involved studies, researches, interviews and participatory meetings with more than 500 people, including municipal leaders, experts and the general population. The final document proposes actions that compete with Fiep System, the City Hall, universities and other sectors, public and private. And it has potential to influence city planning in the long term and creating an urban environment that attracts, retains and develops people, businesses and investments.

"Curitiba is the first. But we are prepared to support other cities in the state," said Rocha Loures. "Our goal is to insert the cities and companies of Parana in the map of global sustainable innovation."

For the president of the Municipal Institute of Public Administration of Curitiba (IMAP), Homero Giacomini, the project "Curitiba 2030" is a landmark for the capital. "The initiative ensures that our young talent for innovation is still alive in the city," he said. He included the project "Curitiba 2030" in the list of other great innovations of the capital, such as urban planning, transport and environmental initiatives. "This document adds to our history of innovation and will certainly bear fruit," said.

Councilman Omar Sabbag, who spoke on behalf of the City Council of Curitiba, said that participation in the process was a learning opportunity. "We were able to deepen the knowledge about the region and its needs.

In explaining the methodology used for prospection, the head of the Foundation OPTI, Ana Morato, said that the prospective on Curitiba was a challenge, with very positive results. "Each city has its own personality. However, to grow in a harmonious and sustainable way, we must be able to think together how we want our city to be in the future," she said. "It is important to highlight the work of the Sesi Senai Paraná Observatories at the coordination of this work," she stated.

Development agents - Local Development Project, which is also part of the "Innovative Cities," acts in places (small towns or neighborhoods of larger cities) to stimulate, organize and train the residents to pursue sustainable development.  

Development agents, trained by Fiep System, work in the localities to implement the methodology that allows residents to dream, define and participate in improvement actions and local sustainability. Started in 2008, the project is already deployed in more than 50 locations in Parana.