Content area

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic review of 103 peer-reviewed articles on creative reindustrialization in second-tier cities, a process through which these cities use culture, creativity, innovation, and heritage to transform post-industrial urban landscapes. Our review identifies four core dimensions of creative reindustrialization: cultural and creative industries, knowledge-based urban development and smart innovation, sustainability and creative tourism, and social participation and resilience. The review reveals major gaps including limited use of quantitative evaluation, insufficient attention to social equity, a lack of comparative and longitudinal studies, and a strong concentration on Europe and East Asia. Drawing on these insights, we propose the CRE-TRANS model, a multidimensional framework that integrates these dimensions and highlights their interconnections in shaping urban regeneration and territorial development. This model can be used for a better understanding of how creativity, innovation and community engagement can shape the post-industrial transformation of second-tier cities. Policy implications stress the need for place-based, cross-sectoral, and participatory strategies that align creative reindustrialization with sustainability, digital transition, and inclusive innovation.

Details

1009240
Title
Reindustrializing the Hidden Gems: A Systematic Review of Creative Efforts in Second-Tier Cities
Author
Demirović Bajrami Dunja 1 ; Petrović, Marko D 2 ; Turgel, Irina D 3 ; Radovanović, Milan M 1 ; Bugrova, Ekaterina D 4 

 Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić”, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; [email protected] (M.D.P.); [email protected] (M.M.R.) 
 Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić”, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; [email protected] (M.D.P.); [email protected] (M.M.R.), Department of Regional Economics and Geography, Faculty of Economics, RUDN University—Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, 117198 Moscow, Russia 
 Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, 620075 Yekaterinburg, Russia; [email protected] 
 Department of Social and Cultural Service and Tourism, Ural Institute of Humanities, Ural Federal University, 620075 Yekaterinburg, Russia; [email protected] 
Publication title
Volume
9
Issue
12
First page
493
Number of pages
28
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
Place of publication
Basel
Country of publication
Switzerland
Publication subject
e-ISSN
24138851
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
Document type
Review
Publication history
 
 
Online publication date
2025-11-21
Milestone dates
2025-10-29 (Received); 2025-11-17 (Accepted)
Publication history
 
 
   First posting date
21 Nov 2025
ProQuest document ID
3286358029
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/reindustrializing-hidden-gems-systematic-review/docview/3286358029/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.
Last updated
2026-01-02
Database
ProQuest One Academic