Purpose of IFKAD-KCWS 2012


Successful international sister conference series of International Forum on Knowledge Asset Dynamics (IFKAD) and Knowledge Cities World Summit (KCWS) decided, for the first time, to bring their energies and communities together and with this strengthened synergy to host their 2012 editions in a joint multi-disciplinary conference setting.

The IFKAD-KCWS 2012 joint conference aims to integrate two distinctive but at the same time highly overlapping perspectives – micro and macro – on knowledge-based development at the firm, organisation and city levels. This international conference encourages discussions on three critical dimensions of the development of 21st century – knowledge, innovation and sustainability. These three essential dimensions of knowledge-based development increasingly represent critical factors affecting the value creation capacity of organisational systems of both firms and organisations (at micro level) and cities (at macro level). Therefore, to prosper in the new complex and competitive business age of the global knowledge economy era firms, organisations and cities need to answer the following three critical questions that this joint conference aims to address:

  • How critical knowledge assets and knowledge-based development principles and frameworks significantly affect value creation mechanisms and development of firms, organisations and cities;
  • How to embed creativity and innovation in the planning, development and management processes of firms, organisations and cities to become more competitive in the era of global knowledge economy, and;
  • How to shape knowledge-based and sustainable firm, organisation and city development models to achieve economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, equitable socio-spatial order and good governance

The IFKAD and KCWS community – the Global Knowledge-Based Development Community – is built on the premise that knowledge-based development and knowledge assets present the key value drivers of today's organisations in both micro and macro levels. The theme for the IFKAD-KCWS-2012 has been selected acknowledging that in the era of global knowledge economy firms, organisations and cities are challenged to face an increasing complexity and to deal with competitive macro forces that are reshaping the competitive landscape. The IFKAD-KCWS-2012 is seeking to explore the role and the links between knowledge, innovation and sustainability with a perspective of bringing together and integrating micro and macro perspectives via a multi-disciplinary approach and delegate that identifies the critical current and future issues, challenges and opportunities.