Maps are a powerful communication tool and one of the main trademarks of ESPON. Past experience has shown that the maps produced by ESPON are widely acknowledged and used. In order to strengthen the use of ESPON results and maps and in particular to facilitate the search and use of the main maps, ESPON plans to set up an ESPON MapFinder.

This MapFinder shall go one step further than just allowing a user-friendly approach to finding relevant ESPON maps for a certain topic. ESPON maps are often rather complex both as regards the underlying methods and concepts, as well as the interpretation of the map. Therefore the MapFinder shall also present a short text of roughly 500 words for 80 selected maps allowing the reader to quickly grasp the main information needed to understand the map. This shall also include information which allows the reader to draw policy relevant conclusions from the map, without risking unintended misinterpretations.

Accordingly, the purpose of this exercise is to strive for presenting results in a very communicative way, which can support the policy development in the field of territorial development, competitiveness and cohesion. 

Client: ESPON Coordination Unit 
Duration: 2012

The scope of the contract concerns the provision of services for the preparation of a Background Report titled “Territorial Cohesion Issues in Europe during the Cyprus Presidency 2012 and beyond” to be used to define the theme(s) of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second semester of 2012, and more particularly with regard to the coordination by the Government of Cyprus of the intergovernmental cooperation among EU Member States in the field of Territorial Cohesion. In detail the work comprises a background report on territorial cohesion issues in Europe and a shorter report on the territorial state and perspectives of Cyprus within the EU.   

Client: Ministry of Interior, Republic of Cyprus
Duration: 2012

DG Regional Policy faces an increasing demand for EU-wide, harmonised regional and urban data analysis. Although a lot of data and indicators are collected at regional level and at the level of bigger cities and agglomerations, the geographical distribution of population at local level has proven to be an essential additional data source when analysing the diversity of the territories in Europe. In order to enable a broader historical perspective on the population evolution of territories and agglomerations, DG Regional Policy aims to establish a database on the boundaries of the local administrative units and their population figures. Ideally, this database would cover every decade, starting in 1960 (with one data point per decade, typically the census years).

After a competitive bidding process, Spatial Foresight was awarded the task of assessing the feasibility of such a database. This feasibility is being assessed in all 27 European Union countries, in the EFTA countries Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, Liechtenstein and in the candidate countries Macedonia, Croatia and Turkey. A wide network of national contact points provide assistance to Spatial Foresight in this task.

Client: European Commission  Directorate-General for Regional Policy 
Duration: 2012

Europe 2020 needs a territorially differentiated implementation. The overall European targets need to be translated into regionally differentiated targets, in order to ensure that all regions can contribute with their potentials to achieving the overall aim.

This study identifies the potentials for territorial differentiated implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy in Germany. It investigates two main aspects of such an approach. Firstly, we research governance mechanisms used for steering development through agreements on quantifiable target values. Secondly, we conduct a regional analysis of German regions to identify potentials for territorially differentiated targeted values related to the Europe 2020 Strategy. This work comprises also a number of case studies and an open dialogue with various German stakeholders. 

Client:  BBSR (German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development)
Duration: 2011-2012

The main objective of the service is to provide the European Commission, DG Regio with an analysis of the financial and physical data of the Objective 1 and 2 Programmes financed during the period 2000-2006 in 25 Member States. The analysis will build on the work undertaken in the data feasibility study carried out under the ex-post evaluation of cohesion policy programmes 2000-2006 co-financed by the ERDF (‘the data feasibility study’), which assembled indicators in a database containing the physical indicators (output, result and impact indicators) presented in the 2006 Annual Reports of the Programmes, and will include information to be collected through the examination of the Final Implementation Reports. Tasks include a massive data collection effort, as well as comment and elaboration of the information gathered concerning expenditures by areas of intervention of the programmes, and indicators used. In addition, the service proposed by the consortium includes a commentary, based on a review of the indicators reported in the Final Implementation Reports and the core indicators by the Commission for 2007-13, on the use of indicators by the programmes, and suggestions for adding possible new core indicators in the future.

The project is carried out in cooperation with T33 in Italy, ÖIR in Austria and a large number of national experts.

Client: DG Regio / T33
Duration: 2011

The objective of territorial cohesion has obtained new policy relevance as of its inclusion in the Lisbon Treaty. Although the 5th Cohesion Report, published in November 2010, has confirmed this new role, it is not yet decided how the objective of territorial cohesion will affect EU policies. This project aims to illustrate how the principle of territorial cohesion can be integrated in different EU sector policies. Therefore, EU policies which highly affect cities and regions , such as Regional Policy, Environmental Policy, Transport Policy as well as other relevant policies will be considered.

This project analyses different understandings of territorial cohesion in the EU and especially in Germany. Content as well as governance related proposals will be made concerning the integration of territorial cohesion in EU policies. The project assists the BBSR (German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development) and the BMVBS (German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development) in developing corresponding proposals. 

Client:  BBSR (German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development)
Duration: 2010-2012

This study is about measuring the impact of changing EU regulatory requirements to administrative cost and administrative burden of managing EU Structural Funds. In a previous study we have analysed the administrative costs of EU Cohesion Policy. This study received considerable attention around Europe and is currently used as baseline for the debate on the framework for the next program period. The aim of the new study is to assess the impact of changing EU regulatory requirements on administrative costs and administrative burden of managing EU Structural Funds. The focus is on the upcoming debate of the regulatory framework for the Structural Funds period post 2013, and to what degree envisaged changes will reduce the administrative cost for the programme bodies and the burden on the beneficiaries. 

Client: DG Regio / T33 / SWECO
Duration: 2010-2011

This ESPON project is part of the applied research strand of ESPON and analyses the role of European territorial cooperation for growth, jobs and quality of life.  The main objective of this project is to assess the relationship between international territorial co-operation and the socio-economic development of EU and neighbouring regions. In a first phase theoretical concepts of territorial cooperation are examined and data on different types of territorial cooperation and other regional characteristics will be collected and structured. In a second phase various qualitative and quantitative methods will be applied in order to investigate the mentioned relationship. This is followed by the development of typologies on territorial cooperation and of policy recommendations. The lead partner of this project is EUROREG at Warsaw University. Spatial Foresight is involved as a sub-contractor and will carry out the foreseen German-Polish case study and contribute to statistical analyses.

Client: ESPON / EUROREG
Duration: 2010-2012

The ESPON Scientitifc Plattform Project on territorial indicators and indices constitutes an important element of the ESPON monitoring platform. Following a first phase of screening existing territorial indicators and indices for the ESPON space, selected territorial indicators and indices are to be made operational for the ESPON Programme. The selection of these indicators and indices will also reflect their usefulness for territorial policies and the needs of the policy community. The lead partner for this project is the Department for Geography at the University of Genève. In collaboration with Susan Brockett Plan og Prosess Spatial Foresight—as sub-contractor—is in charge of the dialogue with the policy community.

Client: ESPON / University of Genève
Duration: 2010-2012

The rural communities of West Norden (Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland) face particular social and economic development challenges related to their isolation, the small size of their local communities and extensive economic specialisation in sectors linked to the extraction and exploitation of raw materials. The objective of the study is to carry out a foresight process focusing on these territories, identifying potential shared ambitions and visions in a 2030 horizon and formulating some strategies to overcome the challenges they are facing. Spatial Foresight coordinates the implementation of the project. The lead stakeholder is the Greenlandic government. The steering group also includes the Icelandic, Faroese and Greenland associations of local authorities and the Faroese Research Centre for Social Development. Nordregio is also part of the project team, providing important background data and maps.

Client: The Nordic Council of Ministers' Arctic Co-operation Programme
Duration: 2010-2011

Following the adoption of the new Territorial Agenda for Europe under the Hungarian Presidency in the first half of 2011, the Polish Presidency wants to ensure progress on the implementation. This is tightly linked to the policy debates about Europe's future Cohesion Policy.

In preparation of the work under the Polish EU presidency, the Ministry for Regional Development has brought together a group of external experts to support the work of the Ministry and prepare a background document. Key aspects in the work are the scrutiny of EU cohesion policy and its territorial dimension, a strengthened dialogue with other sector policies, furthering the debate on key territorial cohesion indicators, and the mobilisation of key stakeholders. Spatial Foresight has mainly an advisory role in this work, providing input from the rich experience in other related works.

Client:  Polish Ministry of Regional Development
Duration: 2011

The EU Commission publication “Regions 2020” and the se of follow up studies “Regional Futures 2020 – Regional challenges in the perspective of 2020” have set the frame for a first prospective analysis of the likely regional impact of four of the biggest challenges facing Europe: globalization, demographic change, climate change, and energy supply. In present study deepens and broadens the analysis presented in “Regions 2020”. For that ÖIR has brought together an international team involving also Spatial Foresight. Spatial Foresight is mainly responsible for the globalization issue and also involved in the analysis of the overall policy implications.

Client: DG Regio / ÖIR
Duration: 2010-2011

ESPON has launched a study to further develop existing territorial impact methodologies and explore the impacts of EU policies to be expected at regional level and the types of territories that will benefit most and least from EU policy intervention. In this study the main focus will be on the assessment of the regional sensitivity to EU Directives. The task of Spatial Foresight is to follow the ESPON study and provided critical reflections and support.

Cient: ESPON, the European observation network on territorial development and cohesion
Duration: 2010-2012

The Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development wants to explore how findings and methodologies from the ESPON 2006 and 2013 programmes could inform Norwegian spatial planning and regional policy debates. The objective of this pre-project is to produce a review of potentially relevant indicators and typologies, which a future, more comprehensive project would  analyse in further detail.     

The review is produced by a consortium led by Spatial Foresight, with participation by Nordregio and Eurofutures Finland. It will be finalised in June 2011.

Client:  Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (KRD)
Duration: 2011

This project aims at providing an overview of policy approaches in Germany and France supporting urban sustainable development. This can include innovative solutions for different fields of urban planning, especially transport, environment, management and living conditions. The indication and description of particular important and/or interesting corresponding policies shall support VINNOVA's strategic and operational work in the field of sustainable cities in Sweden. 

In particular the following questions shall be answered:
Are there specific centers for research and development for sustainable urban development  in Germany or France? Are there  good example of centers, programmes or initiatives for the commercialization or for marketing the green tech business?

Client:   Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis / SWECO
Duration: 2011

Synthesis Reports are an important means for the communication of ESPON results to a wider audience. Since the publication of the last Synthesis Report in 2006, may new ESPON projects have been initiated and some of them have already presented first results. ESPON as commissioned Spatial Foresight to draft a new Synthesis Report. This report shall bring together the key messages and findings of the present ESPON research and inform policy development related to the future of EU Cohesion Policy and Territorial Cohesion.

Client: ESPON
Duration: 2010

Regional development is influenced and supported by a wide range of regional, national and European programmes. The INTERACT cross-programme evaluation in Central and South-eastern Europe (incl. the Danube area) analyses and characterises the joint contribution of a range of programmes or initiatives to the development of the Danube area. The analysis has a particular focus on specific on possible synergies, overlappings, cooperation links and missing connections between the different programmes and initiatives. European Territorial Cooperation Programmes (INTERREG) are in the main focus of the cross-programme evaluation.

Client: INTERACT
Duration: 2009 – 2010

A main issue of this study to identify the ways in which the ETC programmes have an ability to create and support ties that allow the SMEs to participate fully in the European Territorial Cooperation Programmes operating in North East Europe. The critical tasks include identifying, describing and analysing the level of SME involvement the programmes and the dimensions of SME involvement that contribute to the regional competitiveness and innovation of the participating regions. The critical issue is to identify the bottom-up qualities of the actions implemented and draw conclusions that are relevant to the Client, the programme secretariats, as well as the SMEs and other project partners. The study is carried out by Net Effect in cooperation with Sweco and Spatial Foresight.

Client: INTERACT / Net Effect
Duration: 2010

Norwegian regional policies have traditionally focused on peripheral areas and in particular on the challenges facing the northernmost parts of Finnmark and Troms. The Ministry for Local Government and Regional Development has commissioned a study to enquire whether mountain areas of southern Norway could also be the object of targeted measures. The objective is to check whether specific economic and social development conditions can be identified in this part of the country. The research consortium led by the Lillehammer-based research organisation Østlands-forskning, and of Spatial Foresight is a partner, was selected to carry out this study on the basis of a competitive bidding process.  The first task is to delineate these mountain areas, using criteria such as altitude, slope, ruggedness and possibly vegetation. Their specificities in terms of social and economic performance, access to services and infrastructure endowment will then be considered. Workshops involving stakeholders from the concerned areas will also be organised, in view of better incorporating the governance and future development potentials of mountain areas in the analysis. The final report will be produced during the summer of 2010.

Client: Norwegian Ministry for Local Government and Regional Development /Østlandsforskning
Duration: 2010 

For the 2007-2013 period more than 300 Structural Funds programmes are under implementation in the EU Member States. The purpose of this study is to review governance and administrative structures at national and regional level for the ERDF and Cohesion Fund programmes during 2007-2013 period. The administrative costs are to be examined on a structural, functional and territorial basis within programmes and projects.

Client: DG Regio / SWECO
Duration: 2009

ESPON has launched a study to further develop existing territorial impact methodologies and explore the impacts of EU policies to be expected at regional level and the types of territories that will benefit most and least from EU policy intervention. The task of Spatial Foresight is to follow the ESPON study and provided critical reflections and support.

Cient: ESPON, the European observation network on territorial development and cohesion
Duration: 2008-2010

The task ahead is to provide a compilation of existing territorial typologies and propose a set of eight territorial typologies which can be used throughout the ESPON 2013 programme. These typologies need to relevant and acceptable in the context of European cohesion policy. Furthermore, they must be based on sound methodologies, built on robust data, have a high explanatory power and communicative value and be of policy relevance. The project is carried out in co-operation with the IRS in Germany and Eurofutures Finland.

Client: ESPON, the European observation network on territorial development and cohesion
Duration: 2009-2010

The Swedish management of the ERDF and ESF programmes 2007-2013 have established a continuous evaluation of their management system in order to facilitate organisational learning and reflection. The key questions to be discussed concern the implementation system, the compliance with EU and national regulations and the effectiveness and efficiency of the programme management.

Client: NUTEK / SWECO
Duration: 2008-2010

In the INTERREG community monitoring and evaluation are increasingly debated. In the framework of these debates, Spatial Foresight is a continuous peer reviewer concerning the elaboration of an INTERACT guidebook on monitoring and evaluation. Furthermore, Spatial Foresight is in charge for various INTERACT workshops with Programme Secretariats and Managing / Steering Committees.

Client: INTERACT
Duration: 2009

Following-up on the Territorial Agenda, an Action Programme with 15 different actions has been adopted. In preparation of the Swedish EU presidency, this study is to assess to what degree these actions have been implemented to what the results are. Based on this, proposals will be elaborated for the future work with the Territorial Agenda and its implementation. 

Client: Swedish Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications / SWECO
Duration: 2009

This Work Package 11 of the Ex-post evaluation of the EU Cohesion Policy Programmes 2000-2006 focuses on the management and implementation systems. The aim is to illustrate the diversity of these systems across Europe, and their contribution to the performance of the programmes, the community added value and sustainable development. 

Client: DG Regio / European Policies Research Centre (EPRC) / SWECO
Duration: 2008-2009

This Work Package 9 of the Ex-post evaluation of the EU Cohesion Policy Programmes 2000-2006 focuses on the rural development. The aim is to illustrate to what degree and how EU Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds have contributed to the development of rural areas in Europe. 

Client: DG Regio / Metis / SWECO
Duration: 2008-2009

ARL, the German Academy for Spatial Research and Planning prepares for a position paper on the EU green book on territorial cohesion. The task of Spatial Foresight is to establish and chair an ad-hoc working group which will draft the ARL position paper.

Client: ARL, the German Academy for Spatial Research and Planning
Duration: 2008-2009

To understand the final results of the ESPON 2006 Programme in a national or regional perspective is not an easy task. The project aims at analysing the final ESPON results with regard to their picture of the territorial development in Germany and their possible implications for Germany.

Client: German Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR) / Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning (IRS)
Duration: 2007-2008

The aim of this project is to analyse to what degree and how the ERDF programmes 20007-2013 contribute to achieving the aims set out in the Lisbon and Göteborg Agendas for growth, jobs and sustainable development.

Client: DG Regio / Nordregio / SWECO
Duration: 2008

During 2000 and 2006 various transport projects have been carried out with EU funding. The aim of this project is to study such projects in Sweden, analyse to what degree the work carried out by these Structural Funds and INTERREG projects complements national Swedish transport policies and to what degree EU funding can be used more strategically in the field of transport policies.

Client: Swedish Association of Local Authorities & Regions / SWECO
Duration: 2008

The Nordic countries are currently all in various phases of administrative reforms. The aim of this project is to illuminate one important aspect of the public debates that currently are taking place in all Nordic countries, namely the arguments that are used (rather than describing the process itself). This will increase the transparency of the debate and be of use when decisions are made.

Client: Nordic Research Programme / Blekinge Institute of Technology
Duration: 2007-2008

The Polish Ministry of Regional Development is interested to learn from Ireland, UK and Sweden in order to improve the Structural Funds management. The tasks of this project is to provide a review of good practices and innovative solutions in assessing real, longer term effects of regional programmes. Spatial Foresight contributes with the Swedish perspective.

Cient: EUROREG - Warsaw University
Duration: 2008

The overall purpose of the project is to determine the regional breakdown of EUropean Structural Funds expenditure at NUTS II and NUTS III level for each general category of expenditure. The project examines expenditure related to the funding period 2000-2006 in 25 countries which where EU Member States in that period. 

Client: DG Regio / SWECO
Duration: 2007-2008

Various research projects have been carried out in preparation of the application for a final nuclear waste repository in Sweden. The aim of this project is to assist the assessment of these search activities by asking the critical questions.

Client: Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI)
Duration: 2008

The Swedish Institute for Growth Policy studies is carrying out an analysis of the multi-annual budget for the period 2007–2013 and beyond. The aim is to scrutinize the budget, particularly in what way it may contribute to economic growth. Based on existing knowledge, this project is intended to suggest steps towards a reform of the EU budget both on short and long term.

Client: Swedish Institute for Growth Policy Studies (ITPS) / SWECO
Duration: 2007

The classical mid-term evaluation will be replaced by an on-going evaluation in the Structural Funds period 2007-2013. The aim of this project is to collect past experience and issues of the current debate in a number of European countries. This information shall support the setting up of the evaluation plans and mechanisms for the on-going Structural Funds evaluation in Sweden.

Client: NUTEK the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth / SWECO
Duration: 2007 

The municipality of Gothenburg is currently drawing up a new masterplan, ÖPXX. This project assesses the economic implications of the draft masterplan which has been presented to the public. The impact assessment is based on a methodology which has been developed in the framework of ESPON for territorial impact assessments of EU policies. 

Client: Municipality of Gothenburg / SWECO
Duration: 2007

The municipality of Malmö is facing a number of urban and demographic challenges relatd to current transition processes. This projects reflects the current challenges and strategies in a wider European perspectives and compares the situation in Malmö to developments in other cities such as Newcastle, Dortmund and Metz. 

Client: Municipality of Malmö / SWECO EuroFutures
Duration: 2007

The Interreg IIIC project “East-West Transport Corridor” has set out to further develop the link between Klaipeda in Lithuania and Esbjerg in Denmark to an important node in the increasing trade between East and West. The aim of this project is to prepare a strategy and mid-term action programme which helps the corridor to position itself globally and strengthen it links to destinations in Russia, the Fare East and Western Europe.

Client: Region Blekinge / SWECO Eurofutures
Duration: 2007 

ESPON, the European Spatial Planning and Observation Network, and the Urban Audit have produced a huge amount of comparative European analysis. This analysis allows European cities and regions to better see their comparative advantages and disadvantages. The aim of this project is to analyse the vast amount of European comparative information with regard to the European position and potentials of the Swedish region Skåne.

Client: Region Skåne / SWECO Eurofutures
Duration: 2007