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Project

TOWN: Small and medium sized towns in their functional territorial context.

The objective of this research project is to investigate the role of Small and Medium-Sized Towns (SMSTs) in their functional context, and their potentialities for promoting territorial cohesion in Europe. Within the general context of balanced and polycentric development of the European territory as a key challenge of territorial development and cohesion policy, the identification of the different functional roles of SMSTs and how they contribute to the development of their territorial context is the main challenge for this research project, in particular identifying the added value that SMSTs can bring to Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches, the TOWN project will address: The identification of SMSTs throughout the European territory The roles and functions that SMSTs perform in European territorial structure. The potentials for and barriers to development of small and medium sized towns in different territorial contexts, and consequent strategic policy options The type of governance and cooperation arrangements that can support their development and their territorial context.
Date:5 Mar 2012 →  31 Mar 2015
Keywords:ESPON, EU2020, European Spatial Planning, Territorial cohesion, Place-based approach, Urban-rural, Territorial governance, Small and Medium-sized Town