Spatial Generation and Evolution Mechanism of Urban Silicon Alley from the Perspective of Actor-Network: A Case Study of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley in Nanjing

China's urban development is currently in the new stage of upgrading existing resources. In response to the insufficient innovation vitality of existing spaces in current urban renewal practices, major cities have successively implemented the "City Silicon Alley" project, attempting t...

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Main Authors: Wang Handong, Yu Tao, Cao Xiaojin
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Editorial Committee of Tropical Geography 2025-07-01
Series:Redai dili
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Online Access:https://www.rddl.com.cn/CN/10.13284/j.cnki.rddl.20240382
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author Wang Handong
Yu Tao
Cao Xiaojin
author_facet Wang Handong
Yu Tao
Cao Xiaojin
author_sort Wang Handong
collection DOAJ
description China's urban development is currently in the new stage of upgrading existing resources. In response to the insufficient innovation vitality of existing spaces in current urban renewal practices, major cities have successively implemented the "City Silicon Alley" project, attempting to explore new paths for the innovative development of existing spaces in old urban areas. This study used the Nanjing Jinchuan Silicon Alley as a typical case, combined with the Actor-network theory, through qualitative methods, such as on-site observation and in-depth interviews. The study analyzed the spatial evolution process of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley and conducted a dialectical assessment of its spatial effectiveness, summarizing the multidimensional promoting effects of urban renewal on material and social spaces, thereby providing experience references for the in-depth construction of urban silicon alleys. The research concludes the following: (1) The Jinchuan Silicon Alley realizes spatial innovation through the combined force of market capital and policy systems. As a key actor, the Silicon Alley operator takes on capital power and completes the identity transformation. Through various means, such as creating cultural landscapes and developing industrial chains, it promotes the reconfiguration of the action network and shapes a material space with a prominent innovative vitality atmosphere, significant scientific and technological clusters, and diverse social group integration. (2) The development mechanism of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley is based on the leading role of superior innovation policies, actively exploring potential key actors and practical places and requiring the government and operator to coordinate the diverse needs of internal action subjects, leveraging the feedback effect of human and non-human action subjects on the action network, while adopting community-based operation governance ideas to ensure the completion and long-term stable development of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley. (3) The success of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley relies on government guidance, emphasizing the use of market mechanisms to promote urban renewal. Through the "up and down linkage" role of the operator in innovation policies, capital markets, and community residents, it builds an operation model of "industry recruitment + diversified sharing," achieving old city industrial renewal and coexistence of diverse populations, and weakening the spatial isolation induced by gentrification. This study supplements the empirical research on the transformation of existing spaces into innovative spaces from a micro perspective, proving that as a type of alternative path for urban renewal, the internal operation logic of "City Silicon Alley" must possess the traditional renewal "government-market-society" operation mechanism, rely on the overall planning of the market operator, and actively consider the spatial rights of disadvantaged groups, such as community residents. Future research should focus on internal population differences and the social promotion paths of innovative space renovation, promoting the high-quality development of urban silicon alleys.
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spelling doaj-art-8e7863344e2848fb87f1552045a146822025-08-20T03:42:14ZzhoEditorial Committee of Tropical GeographyRedai dili1001-52212025-07-014571225123710.13284/j.cnki.rddl.202403821001-5221(2025)07-1225-13Spatial Generation and Evolution Mechanism of Urban Silicon Alley from the Perspective of Actor-Network: A Case Study of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley in NanjingWang Handong0Yu Tao1Cao Xiaojin2School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaCollege of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaChina's urban development is currently in the new stage of upgrading existing resources. In response to the insufficient innovation vitality of existing spaces in current urban renewal practices, major cities have successively implemented the "City Silicon Alley" project, attempting to explore new paths for the innovative development of existing spaces in old urban areas. This study used the Nanjing Jinchuan Silicon Alley as a typical case, combined with the Actor-network theory, through qualitative methods, such as on-site observation and in-depth interviews. The study analyzed the spatial evolution process of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley and conducted a dialectical assessment of its spatial effectiveness, summarizing the multidimensional promoting effects of urban renewal on material and social spaces, thereby providing experience references for the in-depth construction of urban silicon alleys. The research concludes the following: (1) The Jinchuan Silicon Alley realizes spatial innovation through the combined force of market capital and policy systems. As a key actor, the Silicon Alley operator takes on capital power and completes the identity transformation. Through various means, such as creating cultural landscapes and developing industrial chains, it promotes the reconfiguration of the action network and shapes a material space with a prominent innovative vitality atmosphere, significant scientific and technological clusters, and diverse social group integration. (2) The development mechanism of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley is based on the leading role of superior innovation policies, actively exploring potential key actors and practical places and requiring the government and operator to coordinate the diverse needs of internal action subjects, leveraging the feedback effect of human and non-human action subjects on the action network, while adopting community-based operation governance ideas to ensure the completion and long-term stable development of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley. (3) The success of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley relies on government guidance, emphasizing the use of market mechanisms to promote urban renewal. Through the "up and down linkage" role of the operator in innovation policies, capital markets, and community residents, it builds an operation model of "industry recruitment + diversified sharing," achieving old city industrial renewal and coexistence of diverse populations, and weakening the spatial isolation induced by gentrification. This study supplements the empirical research on the transformation of existing spaces into innovative spaces from a micro perspective, proving that as a type of alternative path for urban renewal, the internal operation logic of "City Silicon Alley" must possess the traditional renewal "government-market-society" operation mechanism, rely on the overall planning of the market operator, and actively consider the spatial rights of disadvantaged groups, such as community residents. Future research should focus on internal population differences and the social promotion paths of innovative space renovation, promoting the high-quality development of urban silicon alleys.https://www.rddl.com.cn/CN/10.13284/j.cnki.rddl.20240382urban silicon alleyactor-networkspace generationurban renewaljinchuan silicon alley in nanjing
spellingShingle Wang Handong
Yu Tao
Cao Xiaojin
Spatial Generation and Evolution Mechanism of Urban Silicon Alley from the Perspective of Actor-Network: A Case Study of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley in Nanjing
Redai dili
urban silicon alley
actor-network
space generation
urban renewal
jinchuan silicon alley in nanjing
title Spatial Generation and Evolution Mechanism of Urban Silicon Alley from the Perspective of Actor-Network: A Case Study of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley in Nanjing
title_full Spatial Generation and Evolution Mechanism of Urban Silicon Alley from the Perspective of Actor-Network: A Case Study of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley in Nanjing
title_fullStr Spatial Generation and Evolution Mechanism of Urban Silicon Alley from the Perspective of Actor-Network: A Case Study of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley in Nanjing
title_full_unstemmed Spatial Generation and Evolution Mechanism of Urban Silicon Alley from the Perspective of Actor-Network: A Case Study of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley in Nanjing
title_short Spatial Generation and Evolution Mechanism of Urban Silicon Alley from the Perspective of Actor-Network: A Case Study of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley in Nanjing
title_sort spatial generation and evolution mechanism of urban silicon alley from the perspective of actor network a case study of the jinchuan silicon alley in nanjing
topic urban silicon alley
actor-network
space generation
urban renewal
jinchuan silicon alley in nanjing
url https://www.rddl.com.cn/CN/10.13284/j.cnki.rddl.20240382
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