Alpcity

Local endogenous development
and urban regeneration of small alpine towns

Summary:



WORK PACKAGES - AN OVERVIEW -

AlpCity project is articulated in 9 Work Packages as it follows:

WP 1 - TRANSNATIONAL PROJECT PREPARATION ACTIVITIES

The activities aimed at the formulation and submission of the AlpCity project proposal (technical and financial) including the finalisation of a trans-national partnership (11 Partners from 5 Countries: Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland) through different research and communication activities as well as the meetings organised by the Lead Partner (Regione Piemonte) and some of the other PPs. Setting-up of a Scientific Steering Committee composed by 8 highly qualified Experts in the project's working areas ('Sustainable urban development and urban regeneration of small alpine/mountain towns'). The SSC is required to steer and support the project design and development both strategically and from an operational point of view. Finalisation of a plan of work as well the project's organisation aimed at the successful project's management, implementation and follow-up.

WP 2 - TRANSNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The activities aim at an efficient and effective project's implementation, management and supervision (technically, administratively and financially) at a trans-national level by respecting the project's timing, resources and the legislations of the EC INTERREG IIIB AlpineSpace Programme as well as the national and regional regulations and procedures for the project's implementation. Setting up and management of the AlpCity Management Office located at the Regione Piemonte's premises and aimed at supporting - as Lead Partner - the different Project Partners. Setting up of a Project Steering Group composed by the different Project Partners' representatives, and finalisation of a Scientific Steering Committee (8 Experts). Organisation of Partners and SSC meetings. Co-ordination and communication activities both internally (ref. to the PPs) and externally (ref. to Local Authorities, Research Institutions, NGOs and other stakeholders).

WP 3 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Project management activities (technical, administrative and financial) carried out by each Project Partner in line with the EC procedures (ref. to INTERREG IIB - Alpine Space Programme) as well as the ones of the Partners (ref. Public Administrations' internal procedures) and their countries of reference (e.g. ref. to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport).

WP 4 - ACTIVITIES OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY

Activities carried out at trans-national and national levels, and aimed at publicising the project with reference to its strategies, goals, activities, results and follow-up. The information and communication activities envisage the involvement of the whole Partnership and are co-ordinated and supervised by the Lead Partner (Regione Piemonte). A Communication Plan has been formulated by taking into consideration the different target groups (internal and external such as the Public Administrations, Local Communities and Authorities, Universities, Centres of Research, NGOs etc ...). The I&P core activities include: the design, implementation and updating of a dedicated AlpCity web site (www.alpcity.it) linked to the PPs web sites (www.alpcity.at; www.alpcity.de); a mailing list, brochures, leaflets, posters, CD Rom, the participation at trans-national events; organisation of the AlpCity Scientific Meeting (June 2005) and the AlpCity Trans-national Final Conference (October 2006) including an exhibit dedicated to the project's results.

WP 5 - CASE STUDIES: 'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'

The WP is related to the selection and implementation of Case Studies by the PPs on the issue of 'Economic development' (ref. to small alpine/mountain towns) including:

  • Development and assistance to the SME with special attention to the ones which contribute to the local sustainable development in line with the requirement to preserve the local environment and territory as well as its cultural and social resources and heritage;
  • Setting up of new SME with also reference to the new technologies, telecommunication and services able to support the development of local employment opportunities and quality of life of the local population by encouraging a new entrepreneurship and enterprises;
  • Training activities addressed to different social target groups (youth, women and other disadvantaged groups and ethnic minorities);
  • Training activities for professionals in response to the requests of the territory and market in order to support new local investments.

Regione Lombardia is acting as WP Co-ordinator. Thanks to the support of the SSC, a framework of reference from a strategic and operational point of view has been formulated (ref. to the Case Studies' Forms) in order to support the implementation, development and comparison among the Case Studies carried out by the different PPs. A database of Case Studies will be included in the AlpCity web site in order to allow the access to information of a wide public. The Case studies will also represent the working basis for a further reflection, search and collection of Best Practices as well as the formulation of recommendation with a mid-log term perspective (ref. to the policies guidelines for fostering the sustainable development of small alpine/mountain towns).

WP 6 - CASE STUDIES: 'SERVICES AND QUALITY OF LIFE'

The WP is related to the selection and implementation of Case Studies by some PPs on the issue of the improvement of 'Services and quality of life' with reference to the small alpine/mountain towns. The Case studies will focus on:

  • Improvement of the quality and quantity of services with special reference to the needs of alpine and mountain communities, as well as the accessibility to these services in contexts characterised by a low density of population;
  • Improvement and innovation of the services' provision and management models by taking into consideration the need to support the economic, social and cultural development of small alpine/mountain communities which present different weaknesses in relation to their capacities to access these services, integrate the public and private services as well as involve the private sector and the local population.

The Austrian Partner (Niederösterreich) is acting as WP Co-ordinator. Thanks to the support of the SSC, a framework of reference from a strategic and operational point of view has been formulated (ref. to the Case Studies' Forms) in order to support the implementation, development and comparison among the Case Studies carried out by the different PPs. A database of Case Studies will be included in the AlpCity web site in order to allow the access to information of a wide public. The Case studies will also represent the working basis for a further reflection, search and collection of Best Practices as well as the formulation of recommendation with a mid-log term perspective (ref. to the policies guidelines for fostering the sustainable development of small alpine/mountain towns).

WP 7 - CASE STUDIES: 'URBAN ENVIRONMENT'

The WP is related to the selection and implementation of Case Studies by some PPs on the issue of the 'Urban environment' with reference to the small alpine/mountain towns.
The Case studies will focus on:

  • Regeneration of historical centres and settlements in small Alpine/mountain towns;
  • Project planning and regeneration of recent settlements: residential areas, entrance to the small towns and areas along the main access roads, commercial and industrial areas;
  • Project planning and regeneration of buildings and public spaces which promote the local integrated development (environmental, social, economic and cultural) as well as a relevant identification between the local communities and their territory/environment.

The Partner Friuli Venezia Giulia is acting as WP Co-ordinator.
Thanks to the support of the SSC, a framework of reference from a strategic and operational point of view has been formulated (ref. to the Case Studies' Forms) in order to support the implementation, development and comparison among the Case Studies carried out by the different PPs. A database of Case Studies will be included in the AlpCity web site in order to allow the access to information of a wide public. The Case studies will also represent the working basis for a further reflection, search and collection of Best Practices as well as the formulation of recommendation with a mid-log term perspective (ref. to the policies guidelines for fostering the sustainable development of small alpine/mountain towns).

WP 8 - CASE STUDIES: 'CO - OPERATION AMONG TOWNS'

The WP is related to the selection and implementation of Case Studies by some PPs on the issue of 'Co-operation among towns' with reference to the small alpine/mountain towns (ref. to the setting-up and development of network and co-operation activities).
The Partner Région Rhône-Alpes is acting as WP Co-ordinator.
Thanks to the support of the SSC, a framework of reference from a strategic and operational point of view has been formulated (ref. to the Case Studies' Forms) in order to support the implementation, development and comparison among the Case Studies carried out by the different PPs. A database of Case Studies will be included in the AlpCity web site in order to allow the access to information of a wide public. The Case studies will also represent the working basis for a further reflection, search and collection of Best Practices as well as the formulation of recommendation with a mid-log term perspective (ref. to the policies guidelines for fostering the sustainable development of small alpine/mountain towns).

WP 9 - ' BEST PRACTICES AND FUTURE SCENARIOS '

The WP basically includes the activities aimed at the selection, collection and exchange of 'Best Practices' with reference to the subject of sustainable local development and urban regeneration of small alpine/mountain towns. The WP - co-ordinated by Regione Piemonte (LP) - has a crucial role within the AlpCity Project because it supports strategically and operationally the achievement of the project's main aims (ref. to the exchange of experiences, information, know-how at a trans-national level and setting - up of networking activities) as well as represents the working basis for reflections in view of the formulation of recommendations and policies' guidelines (mid-long term perspectives). As results achieved for the WP9 there are a Regional AlpCity Observatory, the Best Practices AlpCity Award and the participation to the Best Practices Award of the UN Habitat (ref. to the UNHabitat Programme 'Best Practices and Leadership Programme' 2006 Award edition)




e-mail: alpcity@regione.piemonte.it