IMPROVING THE KNOWLEDGE CAPABILITY OF CITIES - THE CASE OF MAINPORT ROTTERDAM

In urban policy-making, knowledge needs to be treated as an important source of economic power and welfare. This paper explores the urban kn owledge capability in a conceptual sense and then turns to an empirica l exploration by using Mainport Rotterdam in the Netherlands as an exa mple. Planning the future of Rotterdam is subject to various uncertain ties, due to questions about the extent to which port facilities for s torage and throughput should continue to be expanded and the regional economy needs to move structurally towards innovative economic activit ies. The Dutch government has recognized the importance of new knowled ge in the transport sector, and provides budgets for research in port activities in Rotterdam. This is particularly important because there is no 'level playing field' between ports in North-west Europe. Furthe r, in urban planning, a major challenge is to establish institutional structures that preserve open learning and link various policy fields with each other.