Attract and connect: The 22@Barcelona innovation district and the internationalisation of Barcelona business.

Innovation is frequently cited as the battleground of international competitiveness in the 21st century and cities are increasingly viewed as the cauldrons of innovation, enriching not only their surrounding regions but their nations as a whole. Across the globe massive renewal is taking place in our cities, fundamental shifts in the nature of work and the workplaces they host, and transformation of their output as well as their consumption. Cities compete with another to attract not only firms and direct foreign investment, but also skilled knowledge workers to develop their social capital and capacity for innovation. But is the attraction of top talent the crucial ingredient? In this study we examine the transformation of Barcelona and its historic cotton district to become an international hub of innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]