URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND SMART CITIES: Governance Model for Innovative Ecosystems in the Municipality of Curitiba.

The text analyses the importance of innovation ecosystems for sustainable urban development, highlighting the governance model implemented in Curitiba, particularly in the “Pinhão Valley.” Curitiba’s experience is presented as a national and international reference in integrating innovation, sustainability, and public policy, driven by a collaborative structure involving government, academia, and the productive sector. The governance of the local ecosystem is organized through a committee structured into laboratories, networks, and innovation clusters, operating under principles of open leadership, horizontality, and collective participation. The study shows how efficient coordination among multiple stakeholders can foster smart and sustainable cities through fiscal policies, incentive programs, innovation environments, and stakeholder integration. Finally, the text emphasizes that building a sense of belonging and cooperation is essential for the ecosystem’s vitality, which should function like a collaborative symphony aimed at human, economic, and environmental progress through cooperation among different sectors of society.