Abstract: The project confirms the need to deepen territorial knowledge in order to build a polycentric territorial organisation capable of strengthening urban development and inter-territorial integration – inter-urban and rural-urban relations – in order to reduce socio-economic disparities between and within regions (PNPOT, 2019). The aim of the project is to explore territories from the perspective of relational spaces, identifying potentials and bottlenecks, as well as possibilities for innovation in terms of public policy organisational models. To this end, the primary objective of the project is to identify and describe functional urban areas and regions (AUF and RUF) in the light of the challenges of territorial cohesion and territorial competitiveness. Territorial cohesion, as a guiding principle for public policies, is essential to ensure the balanced and equitable socio-economic development of all territories, to value diversity and complementarity, and to enable the population to make the most of the characteristics of each territory. One of the objectives of this project is therefore to identify functional, multidimensional areas capable of supporting the territorialisation of public policies in different sectors (housing, education, health, transport, environment, etc.), which have multiple impacts on the promotion of territorial cohesion. Territorial competitiveness as a guiding principle for public policies is essential to ensure economic growth for all territories by exploiting the potential of different places. The aim is therefore to identify functional regions capable of supporting the territorialisation of public policies for innovation and economic growth, taking into account the size and diversity of resources and existing weaknesses, in order to promote territorial competitiveness. Social Network Analysis (SNA), also known as Network Science (NS), will support the methodological approach to the identification of RUFs, making it possible to understand how individuals, groups and entities interact in complex networks. The SNA is the preferred method for identifying communities and studying the structure, dynamics and characteristics of networks of functional urban regions. The aim is to understand the interactions and flows between different urban regions by identifying the patterns and structures that emerge from these flows of interaction between urban regions. Multivariate statistical treatments, supported by a base of municipal indicators, are used to characterise the functional areas or regions. Based on the results, a synthesis of theoretical and methodological references and a relational and municipal characterisation database are planned. In the spirit of open science, an online platform will be set up to disseminate a series of national maps delineating and depicting the RUFs. Two articles will also be submitted to indexed international journals. The implementation/ dissemination/publication process will be carried out in such a way as to involve the partners according to their areas of specialisation in the preparation of each of these products. To this end, the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDRs) will be involved. They will be responsible for monitoring the development of the project and for organising a series of workshops to strengthen the involvement of regional institutions in the challenges of competitiveness and territorial cohesion. At national level, the project will also be monitored by the Directorate General for Territorial Development (DGT). At the end of the project, a conference will be organised and a technical report and policy brief will be produced.

Timetable: November 2024 - November 2025

Team: Teresa Sá Marques (coord.), Catarina Maia, Carlos Nunes, Diogo Ribeiro, Fátima Matos, Gonçalo Santinha, Hélder Alves, Hélder Santos, Isabel Cristina Martins, João Cerejeira da Silva, Marcelo Torres, Márcio Ferreira, Maria do Rosário Oliveira, Miguel Saraiva, Paula Guerra.