The first aim of this COST Action is to develop a European comparative perspective on the phenomenon of new working spaces (definition, development, glossary, taxonomy, location determinants).

This first phase will allow to:

• identify the typologies (i.e. Taxonomy) of such emerging workplaces
• reveal their spatial distribution and explain their location patterns.

This analysis includes collaborative and creative working spaces (coworking spaces and smart work centres); makerspaces and other technical spaces (fablabs, open workshops); other new working spaces (hackerspaces, Living Lab and corporate labs); and informal new working spaces (coffee shops and libraries).

Considering the different disciplinary perspectives of the partners, comparing the state of the art of research carried out by the participants involved in the network will help to develop a database and mapping a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.

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Through the comparison and dissemination of the first results of these international research activities, the Action aims to reach its second objective, namely to identify the best practices (Atlas) about new working spaces concerning their effects on organizations and individual workers performance (direct effects), and the urban environment (indirect effects).

It will be structured identifying, measuring and evaluating the direct and indirect effects of these new working spaces (Atlas) in order to understand whether and how they have promoted – with or without the help of public subsidies and planning measures:

• regional competitiveness, economic performance and resilience;
• entrepreneurial milieu;
• knowledge creation within regional innovation system, retaining knowledge workers and the creative class;
• social inclusion and spatial regeneration of peripheral areas.

For instance, the positive and negative effects of new working spaces on the urban environment (i.e. urban regeneration and social cohesion vs. the reinforcement of gentrification processes) makes the discussion of their relationship with politics very impelling, questioning the urgency of tailored and situated policies.

This objective concerns the development of a methodology able to collect the several impacts of new working spaces on the urban area, and specifically on the peripheral ones.

More on the activities of WG2 in our podcast:

The third aim of this COST Action is to collect, discuss and develop guidelines for tailored policy and planning measures (Tool Box) to foster the positive effects of new workplaces through the promotion of agreements and cooperation with local, regional and/or national public administrations/stakeholders, as well as to try to mitigate their negative effects on the neighborhoods (i.e. gentrification, parking shortages, noise, or increasing real estate prices).

This common European framework for promoting new working spaces with particular attention to peripheral areas will help to evaluate conditions for transferability of policy and planning tools and mechanisms and provide recommendations for policy-makers and professional operators.

Additional info is available in our podcast: