IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/joiaen/v14y2025i1d10.1186_s13731-025-00488-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Redefining Toyota’s Woven City as a “glocal” innovation ecosystem for integrated sustainable development

Author

Listed:
  • Hiroshi Ito

    (Nagoya University of Commerce and Business)

  • Kazuhiko Kato

    (Nagoya University of Commerce and Business)

Abstract

Since 2020, Woven by Toyota, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, has been establishing Woven City in Susono City, Shizuoka, Japan. While previous research characterizes Woven City as a corporate smart city, Toyota frames it as a test course for human-centered mobility innovation, integrating advanced technologies and sustainable urban solutions. The present study explores the anticipated roles and potential impacts of Woven City through surveys and interviews with Susono City government officials, Toyota employees, university professors, civil society personnel, and local citizens. Using thematic analysis, this study identifies Woven City as a pioneering case of a “glocal” innovation ecosystem for integrated sustainable development. It emphasizes its role in balancing technological innovation, economic growth, community engagement, and environmental sustainability. As the first urban initiative led by a mobility company with a unique resident recruitment model and strict control over governance, this study provides valuable insights into how systems theory can inform the design, management, and analysis of urban initiatives. The study contributes to advancing urban planning by presenting a theoretical and practical framework that aligns locally developed technologies and innovation in Woven City with global sustainability goals. By addressing pressing issues, such as fostering economic growth, reducing environmental degradation, and promoting social equity, Woven City demonstrates how localized technological solutions can achieve a global impact. The findings provide actionable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and developers, offering a replicable framework for scaling innovative urban solutions to address global challenges while meeting local needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiroshi Ito & Kazuhiko Kato, 2025. "Redefining Toyota’s Woven City as a “glocal” innovation ecosystem for integrated sustainable development," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joiaen:v:14:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1186_s13731-025-00488-7
    DOI: 10.1186/s13731-025-00488-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1186/s13731-025-00488-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1186/s13731-025-00488-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elias G. Carayannis & David F. J. Campbell & Evangelos Grigoroudis, 2022. "Helix Trilogy: the Triple, Quadruple, and Quintuple Innovation Helices from a Theory, Policy, and Practice Set of Perspectives," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 2272-2301, September.
    2. Inga Ivanova, 2014. "Quadruple Helix Systems and Symmetry: a Step Towards Helix Innovation System Classification," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 5(2), pages 357-369, June.
    3. Morgan Mouton & Ryan Burns, 2021. "(Digital) neo-colonialism in the smart city," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(12), pages 1890-1901, December.
    4. Andrea Caragliu & Chiara F. Del Bo, 2022. "Smart cities and urban inequality," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(7), pages 1097-1112, July.
    5. Elias G. Carayannis & David F. J. Campbell, 2021. "Democracy of Climate and Climate for Democracy: the Evolution of Quadruple and Quintuple Helix Innovation Systems," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(4), pages 2050-2082, December.
    6. Lom, Michal & Pribyl, Ondrej, 2021. "Smart city model based on systems theory," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    7. Manolis Manioudis & Giorgos Meramveliotakis, 2022. "Broad strokes towards a grand theory in the analysis of sustainable development: a return to the classical political economy," New Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(5), pages 866-878, September.
    8. Adeeb A. Kutty & Galal M. Abdella & Murat Kucukvar & Nuri C. Onat & Melih Bulu, 2020. "A system thinking approach for harmonizing smart and sustainable city initiatives with United Nations sustainable development goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1347-1365, September.
    9. Hans-Gerd Ridder, 2017. "The theory contribution of case study research designs," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 10(2), pages 281-305, October.
    10. Kenneth Nordberg, 2015. "Enabling Regional Growth in Peripheral Non-University Regions—The Impact of a Quadruple Helix Intermediate Organisation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 6(2), pages 334-356, June.
    11. Robert G. Hollands, 2015. "Critical interventions into the corporate smart city," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 8(1), pages 61-77.
    12. Elias Carayannis & Ruslan Rakhmatullin, 2014. "The Quadruple/Quintuple Innovation Helixes and Smart Specialisation Strategies for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Europe and Beyond," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 5(2), pages 212-239, June.
    13. von Zedtwitz, Maximilian & Gassmann, Oliver, 2002. "Market versus technology drive in R&D internationalization: four different patterns of managing research and development," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 569-588, May.
    14. Paolo Cardullo & Rob Kitchin, 2019. "Smart urbanism and smart citizenship: The neoliberal logic of ‘citizen-focused’ smart cities in Europe," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 37(5), pages 813-830, August.
    15. Ryan Burns & Victoria Fast & Anthony Levenda & Byron Miller, 2021. "Smart cities: Between worlding and provincialising," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(3), pages 461-470, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Noriko Yoda & Kenichi Kuwashima, 2024. "Regional Innovation Led by the Fourth Helix: a Case of Sake Development," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 13470-13485, September.
    2. Bipashyee Ghosh & Saurabh Arora, 2022. "Smart as (un)democratic? The making of a smart city imaginary in Kolkata, India," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 40(1), pages 318-339, February.
    3. Yong Kyu Lew & Jeong‐Yang Park, 2021. "The evolution of N‐helix of the regional innovation system: Implications for sustainability," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 453-464, March.
    4. Andréa Aparecida Costa Mineiro & Cleber Carvalho Castro & Marcelo Gonçalves do Amaral, 2024. "Who Are the Actors of Quadruple and Quintuple Helix? Multiple Cases in Consolidated Science and Technology Parks," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 4691-4709, March.
    5. Muhammad Rahim Ejaz, 2024. "Smart Manufacturing as a Management Strategy to Achieve Sustainable Competitiveness," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 682-705, March.
    6. Kamran Hameed & Khuram Shahzad & Naveed Yazdani, 2023. "Global Incidences of Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Conceptualization and Measurement Framework," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(4), pages 5033-5064, December.
    7. Hilka Pelizza Vier Machado & Rejane Sartori & Priscila Freire Martins Rosa, 2025. "Beyond the Triple Helix Model: Scientific Production on the Quadruple and Quintuple Helix," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 5758-5791, March.
    8. Luisa Barbosa-Gómez & Magdalena Wailzer & Laura Soyer & Anna Gerhardus & Francisco González Estay & Vincent Blok & Gema Revuelta, 2024. "Strategies to Overcome Collaborative Innovation Barriers: The Role of Training to Foster Skills to Navigate Quadruple Helix Innovations," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 10057-10087, September.
    9. Yang, Zhen & Gao, Weijun & Han, Qing & Qi, Liyan, 2024. "Aggravating or alleviating? Smart city construction and urban inequality in China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    10. Zafeirios Thomakis & Irene Daskalopoulou, 2022. "Entrepreneurial Views and Rural Entrepreneurial Potential: Evidence from Greece," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 1611-1634, June.
    11. Ryan Burns & Victoria Fast & Anthony Levenda & Byron Miller, 2021. "Smart cities: Between worlding and provincialising," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(3), pages 461-470, February.
    12. Jalaluddin Abdul Malek & Seng Boon Lim & Tan Yigitcanlar, 2021. "Social Inclusion Indicators for Building Citizen-Centric Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-29, January.
    13. Alice Villar & Stefania Paladini & Oliver Buckley, 2023. "Towards Supply Chain 5.0: Redesigning Supply Chains as Resilient, Sustainable, and Human-Centric Systems in a Post-pandemic World," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 4(3), pages 1-46, September.
    14. Aleksandra Fedajev & Dejan Jovanović & Marina Janković-Perić & Magdalena Radulescu, 2025. "Exploring the Nexus of Distance Learning Satisfaction: Perspectives from Accounting Students in Serbian Public Universities During the Pandemic," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 4465-4495, March.
    15. Talya Ponchek, 2016. "To Collaborate or Not to Collaborate? A Study of the Value of Innovation from a Sectoral Perspective," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 7(1), pages 43-79, March.
    16. Alan Collins & Adam Cox & Gianpiero Torrisi, 2021. "Searching for a Smart City: A Bibliographic Analysis of ‘Public Facing’ EU Smart City Projects," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 112(5), pages 549-565, December.
    17. McAdam, Maura & Miller, Kristel & McAdam, Rodney, 2016. "Situated regional university incubation: A multi-level stakeholder perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 50, pages 69-78.
    18. Solis, Miriam & Bashar, Samira Binte, 2022. "Social equity implications of advanced water metering infrastructure," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    19. Mesumbe Bianca Epede & Daoping Wang, 2023. "Driving Factors for SME Integration into Global Value Chains: Evidence from Cameroon," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(4), pages 4017-4044, December.
    20. Marchesani, Filippo & Masciarelli, Francesca & Bikfalvi, Andrea, 2023. "Smart city as a hub for talent and innovative companies: Exploring the (dis) advantages of digital technology implementation in cities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:joiaen:v:14:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1186_s13731-025-00488-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.