Network news
Pre-announcement of next ESPON call
The next call for proposals under the ESPON 2013 Programme will open on 24 August 2011. It will include proposals on Applied Research, Targeted Analyses, Scientific Platform/Tools projects and Transnational Networking Activities. More information on the call, including how to apply, will be available on the ESPON website soon. The deadline for submitting proposals is 20 October 2011.
ESPON Open Seminar
The ESPON Open Seminar took place in Budapest last week and explored what knowledge is needed to take the Territorial Agenda 2020 (TA2020) forward and inform the EUs Cohesion Policy after 2013. Presentations from the event will be available on the ESPON website soon, but in the meantime, take a look at Cliff Hagues two blogs on the event: ESPON and the EU's Territorial Agenda and Will shrinking regions be left to fade away?.
Smart Cities and Communities Initiative
The European Smart Cities and Communities Initiative was launched on 21 June 2011 and aims to make the production and use of energy in cities more sustainable and efficient. Cities play a key role in meeting the EUs energy saving targets, since 70% of the EUs energy consumption takes place in cities. This new Initiative is part of the EUs strategy for accelerating the large scale deployment of innovative low carbon technologies. Find out more.
ESPON HyperAtlas now online
The ESPON HyperAtlas is now available, providing spatial analysis and indicators for practitioners across Europe. The HyperAtlas allows users to compare and analyse their regions relative position at European, national and local levels for criteria such as GDP per capita, accessibility and ageing. More details are available on the ESPON website.
TA2020 Sustaining a territorial agenda for the EU?
Olivier Sykes, lecturer in the Department of Civic Design at the University of Liverpool, has written a useful article on the TA2020 which highlights the key issues involved. He points out that the policy orientations maintain a broadly similar perspective to those of the Territorial Agenda of 2007 and the ESDP, but highlights new elements such as marine issues, green infrastructure and the focus on place-based approaches to planning. Read the full article.
Latest GEOSPECS newsletter available
The GEOSPECS newsletterhighlights the latest findings from the project, including the recently published Interim Report and case study areas. In the UK, the Highlands and Islands and Outer Hebrides have been chosen as study areas for mountainous and island regions. Find out more about GEOSPECS on the project website.
Do you have connections with your Local Enterprise Partnership?
The UK ESPON Contact Point is holding a conference in London on 30 September 2011 that will show what ESPON can offer to all the new LEPs. In order to develop the programme and establish what would be most valued by attendees, we would like a few contacts that would be willing to give views and feedback. If you are willing or you know someone that would be please contact Eleanor Rowe via research@rtpi.org.uk or phone 020 7929 9496.
New research project on the abolition of regional spatial strategies
Professor Martin Boddy (UWE) and Hannah Hickman (consultant) are undertaking a research project on the impact of the proposed abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies on the West of England sub-region (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire).
They will be doing in-depth interviews with practitioners to explore questions such as: how effective was the RSS at addressing cross boundary issues?; and, did the RSS help provide a sound basis for investment decisions?
Martin and Hannah would be interested to know about any similar studies going on. Please email Hannah at hannah@hannahhickman.co.uk if you can help.
Call for papers
Europeseen from here and elsewhere
The EuroBroadMap International Conference will critically examine the geographical representations of the world in general and Europe in particular. Themes include Europe in the mind; The conflation of Europe with the European Union; and Borders, networks and the fuzzy regionalisation of the world. The conference takes place in Rouen, France from 1-2 December 2011, and papers must be submitted by 5 September 2011 (extended deadline).
Other publications
Consultation results on the Fifth Cohesion Report
Results of the public consultation on the conclusions of the Fifth Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion are now available. The consultation received over four hundred contributions which will help to inform future cohesion policy in the EU.
Smart growth and regional policy
A new brochure produced by the European Commission sets out how the EUs regions and cities can exploit the opportunities offered by Cohesion Policy to boost local and regional sustainable growth. 'Regional policy for smart growth in Europe 2020' offers some good practice examples and emphasises the potential of the low-carbon economy to provide jobs, growth and conserve the environment.
Development potentials in Irelands border region
A new study highlights the development potential of the border region between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The ongoing study, funded by the INTERREG IV programme, outlines the regions heavy reliance on external investment. It proposes that growth over the next decade must be driven from within, rather than outside, the region and be based on its own productive base. Read more.
Connecting Europe transport and regional policy
The latest edition of Panorama looks at transport at a European level, from high-speed rail linking one country to another, to environmentally friendly urban transport systems. It highlights the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) which supports the development of the EU internal market and strengthens economic and social cohesion, and presents a number of case studies from countries such as France, Slovenia and Portugal. Read the magazine online.
Creating knowledge hotspots
The URBACT project REDIS (Restructuring Districts into Science Quarters) has produced a handbook on promoting the urban knowledge economy. It focuses on the creation of hotspots where knowledge-based economic development is favoured, and includes guidance on how to encourage innovation and run a knowledge hotspot. It also outlines a case study of Newcastles new science quarter.
Regional and local economic development
A new book by Cliff Hague, Euan Hague and Carrie Breitbach shows how government, private industry and individuals combine to achieve economic development. It illustrates case studies from more than thirty countries and examines the development of policy and practice over recent years. Visit the publisher's website for more information.
Other events
Sustainable tourism in Europes mountainous areas
This conference is being held in Inverness from 27-28 September 2011. It aims to explore recent developments in active tourism in mountainous areas to identify opportunities to improve EU policy instruments and the way mountain tourism networks can work. Find out more or register to attend.
Open Days Investing in Europes future
The 9th European Week of Regions and Cities takes place in Brussels from 10-13 October 2011. An Open Days magazine has recently been published, illustrating the main themes of the event and a preliminary programme is also available. Registration opens in July 2011.
ESPON in the UK workshop save the date!
The UK ESPON Contact Point is holding a one-day workshop in London on 30 September 2011 which will bring together practitioners from across the UK to discuss strategic planning in a European context. It will focus on how data and concepts from the ESPON 2013 Programme can help to inform policy-making in the UK. More information will be available soon, but keep the date free in your diary for now!
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