Current research
ECOSOCITIES Agendas de recuperación urbana y prácticas de ciudadanía frente a la crisis ecosocial: discursos e iniciativas
ECOSOCITIES aims to understand how city strategies for growth and cohesion are being reframed in Southern European cities in the context of COVID-19 crisis. and the need to cope with environmental challenges. . The project analyses cities from Spain and Portugal, including Barcelona, Bilbao, Sevilla and Oporto and focuses on two intertwined aspects: the development of recovery agendas and strategies, and the role of civil society actors in the development of new views and socially innovative initiatives to cope with the ecological crisis and social justice. The post-covid Scenario draws a new set of opportunities for European cities in terms of investments and economic transformation. The European strategy for recovery brings the possibility of investments in ecological transition and digitalisation in different fields, allowing for the transformation of public space and transport systems, improvement of digitalisation of small and medium-sized businesses, transforming energy systems, or fostering circularity in economy, amongst others. In second place, the Paris agreements bring more responsibility to cities in terms of implementation, opening the scope for their autonomy.
CICERONE Creative and Cultural industires Global Production Networks (2019-2023)
CICERONE takes a novel approach by applying the Global Production Network approach to the cultural and creative industries. Thus far, this approach has been applied to manufacturing (car, electronics and apparel industry). Looking at the cultural and creative industries from this perspective enables to interrogate several important differences between manufacturing
The GPN framework is a very useful heuristic tool to investigate contemporary dispersed production systems. In the CICERONE project, we will use this approach and go beyond the mere creative part or conception/design phases of the CCIs and the clustering of these activities in larger (metropolitan) urban areas. We will use the GPN approach to disentangle complex production systems in the CCIs and investigate how the different components are embedded in broader society. We will also examine where value is created under which conditions, and how power relationships within the networks impact on the capturing of value. In addition we will assess the contribution of the different components of GPNs in CCIs to local development and cultural identities. Following this approach, then, we can add a new chapter to the already extensive field of research and studies in CCIs.
You can find more information on the project at the project website
Former projects (selection)
Innosogo (2015-2017)
This national research project analyses the relation between socially innovative practices to tackle social exclusion and multi-level governance. The objective is to analyze initiatives emerging from civil society or local administration to provide mateiral and immaterial resources and to empower individuals and groups in the context of the economic crisis and austerity policies. We will analyse the emergence in four Spanish citiy-regions: Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Zaragoza. We are specially interested in the connection of such experiences with local administration and their impact in the local goverance in terms of policies. Following previous research on the question, our departing hypothesis is that connection with the administration allows for the consolidation of these initiatives and its transformation into more general policies, but that this transformation can entail a loss of effectiveness.
I am participating in this project with Marisol Garcia (team coordinator), Ana Cano and Santiago Eizaguirre, all of them members of the Research Group CRIT
Innova / Innred (2013-2015)
This national research project analyses the emergence of economic and governance innovations in the urban context that can bring economic growth, employment and social cohesion. Economic innovations refers to new sectors or activities linked to symbolic economy, the so-called creative and knowledge industries, as well as the emergence of new organisation and production dynamics in traditional industrial and services sectors. Besides, governance innovations refer to the creation of new forms of interrelation between economic, political and social actors that allow combine competitiveness and social cohesion. By comparing Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia, the project seeks analysing social, political and economic features that allow the emergence of these forms of innovation, and how these forms fit in the historical development of the territory. The departing hypotheses are the following:
- The 4 city-regions offer spaces for dialogue between scientific community, society, productive sectors and administration.
- There exist new forms of symbolic production that allow open innovation, new forms of employment and funding in the creative and knowledge sectors in the four city-regions.
- There exists continuity in urban policies and their governance formulas after the crisis in the four city-regions.
- Tradtional sectors must reinvent adopting new formulas that include aspects linked to social and economic innovation.
I am participating in this project with Montserrat Pareja-Eastaway (team coordinator), Lídia Garcia-Ferrando, Montse Simó Solsona, Joaquín Turmo Garuz and Juan Vidaechea, all of them members of the research group CRIT
More information on the project here
Convocatòria de Recerca Pasqual Maragall (2014-2015)
The foundation Catalunya-Europa has awarded the project “El paper del municipalisme de Pasqual Maragall en la governança de Catalunya” with a grant for its development. The proejct analyses the role of the former mayor of Barcelona Pasqual Maragall, who became also president of the Autonomous Community of Catalunya between 2003 and 2006. The project analyses the role of Pasqual Maragall in the consolidation of the current multi-level governance framework for the Barcelona Metropolitan Region.
Post-doc research: Urban Governance and innovation in local economic development-The case of Berlin
This project aims to understand the link between urban governance and the emergence of innovative and inclusive forms of urban renewal and economic development through the analysis of two case studies: Berlin and Barcelona. With this comparison we will be in better conditions to understand the emergence of bottom-linked initiatives, that is, socially innovative practices developed through forms of collaboration between civil society and local authorities.
I am currently analysing the historical development of Berlin focusing on the district of Kreuzberg, where there is a tradition of contestation and counterculture. I try to understand the dynamics between this movements and the growing cultural sectors in the neighbourhoods. I want to analyse also what is the role of the district authorities, elected directly by the citizens and with certain power in planning.
Social Polis (2009-2011)
Social Platform on Cities and Social Cohesion was an innovative research project because it crossed the boundaries of the academic world and took the knowledge and experience of practitioners seriously. Social Polis is an open social platform for dialogue between scientific and policy communities as well as civil society organizations and networks on priorities for research on Cities and Social Cohesion. It is a forum for debates on economy, polity, society, culture and ethics across the city as a whole and in a variety of ‘urban’ life spheres. It provides for joint workshops and conferences at which research agendas and modes for future joint research will be developed.
More informaton on the project here
Katarsis Coordinated Action (2007-2009)
KATARSIS was a Coordination Action (CA) under European Commission Framework-6 Programme, coordinated by Global Urban Research Unit (GURU), at the School of Architecture Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, UK. The coordinating team was led by Prof Frank Moulaert and Prof Jean Hillier.
Katarsis built a platform on which research teams specialised in the study of the consequences of growing inequality and social exclusion will exchange their knowledge and work towards a better integration of their research programmes and methodologies.
More information on the project here
Changing cities 