Speaker
Description
The intersection of cultural heritage and urban regeneration provides fertile ground for reimagining the sustainable future of cities. Within this dynamic field, social entrepreneurs have emerged as pivotal agents of change, driving innovative and community-centered approaches to revitalizing heritage assets (Scaffidi, Micelli, Nash; 2024).
While the state of the art in social entrepreneurship and its effect on urban regeneration is well-documented (Sacco & Segre, 2009; Mangialardo & Micelli, 2016; Micelli & Scaffidi, 2022; Micelli, Ostanel, Lazzarini, 2023), there remains a gap in the literature regarding the specific role of the social entrepreneur in sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration. This study – published in Cities Journal (Scaffidi, Micelli, Nash; 2024) - aims to test the hypothesis that social entrepreneurs play a crucial role in this context.
This research examines 17 European case studies where social enterprises transformed neglected industrial heritage into thriving community assets, contributing to cultural vibrancy, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. It employs qualitative research methodologies, including unstructured interviews, exploratory and dialogic surveys, data analysis, and comparative analysis.
Through regeneration, creativity and community-driven models, social entrepreneurs effectively bridge the regeneration of lived heritage with the demands of contemporary urban life. Projects such as ExRotaprint in Berlin and Dolomiti Hub in Italy exemplify this synergy, transforming derelict spaces into cultural hubs that celebrate local narratives while promoting equitable urban futures.
The findings show key success factors, including the cultural sensitivity, innovative mindset, and resilience of social entrepreneurs, alongside the systemic challenges they face, such as restrictive policies and funding limitations.
Aligning with Track 6 of AESOP 2025, this abstract underscores the potential of heritage-led regeneration to sustain and enhance urban cultures. It invites discussion on how social entrepreneurship can serve as a mechanism to preserve urban identities, celebrate diversity, and foster sustainable futures. By linking theoretical insights with practical examples, this contribution provides actionable recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and academics invested in the evolving dialogue of lived heritage and urban transformation.
y linking theoretical insights with practical examples, this contribution provides actionable recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and academics invested in the evolving dialogue of lived heritage and urban transformation.
References
Mangialardo, A., & Micelli, E. (2016). Social capital and public policies for commons: Bottom-up processes in public real estate property valorization. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 223, 175–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.343
Micelli, E., & Scaffidi, F. (2022). Sustainability in urban regeneration: Real or propaganda? In P. Morano, F. Abastante, M. Bottero, C. D’Alpaos, L. Ingaramo, A. Oppio, … F. Salvo (Eds.), Urban regeneration through valuation systems for innovation (pp. 75–90). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12814-1
Micelli, E., Ostanel, E., & Lazzarini, L. (2023). The who, the what, and the how of social innovation in inner peripheries: A systematic literature review. Cities, 140, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104454
Sacco, P. L., & Segre, G. (2009). Creativity, cultural investment and local development: A new theoretical framework for endogenous growth. In U. Fratesi, & L. Senn (Eds.), Advances in Spatial Science - Growth and Innovation of Competitive Regions. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-70924-4_13
Scaffidi, F. (2024). Average social and territorial innovation impacts of industrial heritage regeneration. Cities, 148, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.104907
Scaffidi, F., Micelli E. Nash M. (2024). The role of the social entrepreneur for sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration. Cities, 158, 105670.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105670
| Keywords | Social entrepreneurship, heritage-led regeneration, cultural urbanism, sustainable development, community-driven innovation |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
