Reindustrializing the Hidden Gems: A Systematic Review of Creative Efforts in Second-Tier Cities

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.