Taxonomy of Innovation Environments: a proposal for articulation between theory and practice in planning knowledge-based urban ecosystems

Abstract

The growing impact of innovation ecosystems on socio-economic development strategies underscores the need to understand the environments that structure and sustain them. This article investigates the taxonomy of innovation environments proposed by Sanz et al. (2023), articulating it with the theoretical foundations of innovation ecosystems and the Knowledge- Based Urban Development (KBUD) model. Grounded in a theoretical review, the research aims to contribute to public policy formulation and urban planning through the conceptual and operational qualification of Organized Innovation Spaces (OIS). By analyzing six types of environments—science and technology parks, innovation districts, industrial co-innovation campuses, innovation areas, incubators, and living labs—the article highlights their structural characteristics, governance models, modes of interaction with ecosystem stakeholders, and potential territorial impacts. The analysis seeks to inform the design of urban infrastructures aligned with the economic, sociocultural, institutional, and urban- environmental pillars of the KBUD framework.