摘要 : Several studies have identified the key competitive factors of knowledge and creative cities. They have elaborated specific metrics and indicators to be able to provide a comparative assessment of innovation performance in cities,... 展开 Several studies have identified the key competitive factors of knowledge and creative cities. They have elaborated specific metrics and indicators to be able to provide a comparative assessment of innovation performance in cities, regions and nations. However, few of these studies have analysed the specific reasons why some cities have made a tremendous transition in a specific period of time using a systemic perspective. Through the analysis of a small group of renowned cities, this study examines and identifies the inflection points where the cities made great transformations in terms of world-class performance, and identifies the enabling mechanisms that made the transitions possible, that produced large-scale changes and that created interdependent spaces in which the citizens, the social communities, the businesses and their local natural environments, have become articulated into a harmonious and balanced regional development. 收起