Co-Working Spaces and the Localised Dynamics of Innovation in Barcelona

This paper considers a multi-level perspective to analyse the crucial role of individuals and
communities outside firms in the localised dynamics of innovation. Through a qualitative
study of the communities emerging in co-working spaces (CWSs) in Barcelona, we disentangle
the different dynamics of innovation involving community insiders and local
actors (firms, citizens and governmental bodies). We argue that CWSs act as intermediaries
between creative individuals (“the underground”) and innovative firms (“the upperground”),
contributing to the interaction between co-located actors through the articulation
of places, spaces, projects and events. The results lead to suggestions for policies to
contribute to the emergence and development of innovation by fostering innovative processes outside firms.