Flexible Scale Reconstruction: The Administrative Logic of Urban Innovation Zone Development——An Analysis Based on the Development of National Functional Zone A

Urban innovation zones, as hubs for innovation, surpass the traditional production factor-driven development zone model by adopting an innovation-driven approach. These zones are crucial in promoting high-quality urban development, industrial innovation transformation, and government system innovation. The scale reconstruction theory, characterized by its "structure-process" attributes, provides a theoretical perspective on how governments promote urban innovation zone development. Using National Innovation Functional Zone A as a case study, this research tracks governmental operations from its establishment to its elevation to a national functional zone. The findings indicate that Zone A's development is guided by a government rescaling strategy aimed at achieving spatial governance without altering the existing spatial power structure. This approach exhibits the characteristics of flexible scale reconstruction, demonstrating increased flexibility and adaptability. The "flexibility" of scale reconstruction in urban innovation zones is specifically reflected in the adaptable organization of urban spatial hierarchies, power structures, and social networks. The process of scale reconstruction is marked by uncertainty and mobility, allowing significant negotiation and bargaining space for governments at different levels during the negotiation process. Ultimately, the development of urban innovation zones results in a multi-scale governance landscape involving the joint participation of various scales such as "national-regional-local."The findings of this study will help to advance the localized use of scale reconstruction theory.