Strengthening smaller and medium-sized towns

The ESPON project on “Strengthening smaller and medium-sized towns – together in Europe” explores how towns in Germany and across Europe can be better supported through national and European policies. It brings together existing evidence on their challenges and development potential, identifies good practices and develops recommendations for stronger cooperation and more effective support. Spatial Foresight leads the study in cooperation with Schaltzeit and Professor Peter Dehne, coordinating the research, combining an AI-supported evidence review with comparative policy analysis and stakeholder dialogue to develop practical recommendations for policymakers.

Client: ESPON

Duration: October 2026 - August 2027