AG1 Policy Recommendations: Territorial Ecosystems of Research and Innovation

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Situated within the broader framework of EUSALP, Action Group 1 aims to stimulate research and innovation while promoting an integrated policy approach to address the profound socio-economic and territorial transformations currently underway. Such transformations are generated by the ongoing digital and ecological transitions, both of which are driven by technological innovations and specific European and national policies. AG1 fosters this integrated policy approach by adopting a specific spatial perspective in order to promote the development of territorial ecosystems of research and innovation — dynamic environments where physical and digital infrastructures interact with networks of public institutions, private enterprises, research centers, schools, and civil society.
These territorial ecosystems should be rooted in integrated projects of socio-economic and spatial regeneration, framed by trans-scalar and cross-border territorial visions, and aimed at decreasing the growing socio-economic and territorial disparities within the Alpine space.

In this perspective, by leveraging collaborative governance models and place-based planning and design methods, Action Group 1 contributes to building a future-proof Alpine macro-region, where innovation becomes a driver of socio-economic and territorial equity, shared prosperity, and anti-fragility.

Here follows an outline of Policy Recommendations, which can be categorized in three groups:

1. Territorial diagnostics, planning and design

  • Identify demands, opportunities and requests for research and innovation at the intersection between supralocal policies and local initiatives
  • Accordingly, select topics for the development of “territorial” ecosystems of research and innovation
  • With this approach, integrate the physical hardware and the scientific software
  • Define the territorial frameworks through the development of spatial figures and visions
  • Articulate them into spatial scenarios for “territorial” ecosystems of research and innovation
  • Identify hubs in accessible sites through the reuse of abandoned spaces along existing networks of transport and green and blue infrastructures
  • Promote hubs as flexible spaces in relation to their locations, vocations, functional mix, and coalition of actors
  • When involving universities, develop such hubs according to the off-campus model, shared by multiple academic institutions around place-based teaching and research activities, and open to the local communities

2.  EUSALP Governance

  • Support coalitions of interest between universities, schools, research institutions, firms, public institutions, and local communities
  • Target efforts towards the development of “territorial” ecosystems of research and innovation by integrating the diversification and reactivation of production landscapes with the social inclusion and territorial re-naturalization
  • Enhance the potential transversality of the AG1 by selecting the topics for the ‘territorial’ ecosystems of research and innovation in interaction with the thematic focus of the other Eusalp AGs
  • Promote an integrated policy governance to drive research and innovation in the prospect of territorial cohesion in order to break down sectoral silos and prevent fragmentation
  • According to the Joint Paper of Spatial Planning for the Eusalp Strategy, target the spatial planning and design approach to foster the cross-sectoral integration between multiple policies of innovation
  • Establish a framework for monitoring and for impact assessment, including key performance indicators (KPIs)

3. Social Innovation

  • Promote laboratories of participation and co-creation to develop territorial figures, spatial visions, and related scenario framing the territorial ecosystems of research and innovation
  • Enhance the role of universities as drivers for the interaction between institutional, economic and social actors, as well as for the promotion of the above-mentioned laboratories of participation and co-creation
  • Support alliances of different interests in relation to both supralocal trajectories and local needs for the development of ‘territorial’ ecosystems of research and innovation by strengthening cooperations among different regions of the Alpine space
  • Enhance the role of education as a driver for interaction between young generations, and multiple economic and social stakeholders
  • Promote laboratories of participation and co-creation to develop such interaction in relation to long-term thematic visions and scenarios
  • Develop facilities and activities of research and innovation able to intersect economic diversification and reactivations with social inclusion and territorial re-naturalization
 

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The following Policy Recommendations have been elaborated by the members of the Actions Groups of EUSALP, reflect the expertise of the AGs members and are meant for voluntary implementation by the decision makers when it comes to the Alpine Region.