Quality of life through innovation indicators: the case of peripheral suburbs of Sydney

This chapter discusses the concept of "Innovation Ecosystems" for assessing innovation intensity in peripheral areas of metropolitan regions. Innovation is a significant driver of prosperity, industry growth and job creation and is a significant influence in progress towards the sustainability of suburbs. Emergent areas of new technology applications and the development of smarter industries all have roots in innovative practices. However, innovation studies have traditionally focused on the strengths that cities, and in particular central business districts and inner-city suburbs, have in relation to the industries of the emerging "knowledge economy", notably IT, financial, property and business services. Peripheral suburbs have, most of the time, been neglected from the analysis.

The chapter presents results on a study of innovation drivers in Sydney's South West suburbs. (Results of the study are also published by Housing Policy Debate Vol 19 (3): 553-572.) The study shows that peripheral suburbs in metropolitan regions have local innovation processes that require specific planning measures for promoting innovation-intensity with a focus on quality of life outcomes. Some of these innovation processes are linked to local characteristics of suburbs that might not apply to the whole city or metropolitan region.