Can Metropolitan Region Not Be Innovative?

Abstract

One of the qualities of metropolises is their innovativeness. However, when we ask about the qualities of an innovative metropolitan region, the matter becomes somewhat complicated. The tasks of a metropolitan region concentrate around matters of supporting the functioning of its main centre. However, we should not assume that this support is only meant to take place in the form of simple economic functions like workforce accessibility, the providing of food, drinking water or fuel. Technological and industrial subcentres play an important role in a metropolitan region, their operation being directed at goals that the main centre works towards, which shows that if this support is to be efficient, then it has to be adapted to specific needs in a greater manner, in addition to meeting the criteria of innovativeness. In turn, if the subcentres are directed towards competitiveness, then they must tend to the development of their own creativity, which must result in increasing the degree of innovativeness of the activity that takes place inside them in all four types of innovation: product, process, marketing and organisational. From among the most commonly cited indicators of innovativeness, the number of patents is brought up the most frequently. Among Polish research institutions, the highest number of patents are being filed by universities and pharmaceutical companies, while territorially the most innovative region is that of the Warsaw metropolis. Innovation in urban planning and architecture is most often based on striving towards sustainable development, the minimisation of labour associated with transport and improving the quality of life of society, in addition to the adaptation of the latest technological solutions in building construction and the promoting of energy efficiency and the generation of renewable energy.