The project new-LiFE, put forward by ENTI for the 7th European research programme, about the topic “Europe moving towards a new path of economic growth and social development”, was submitted on Februar 2th.

How can Europe maintain economic growth and social welfare despite the financial crisis and the ecological challenges?

39 research centres and in Europe and around the world (17 european countries, 4 international countries, more than 200 researchers and stakeholders) are associated with the project new-LiFE “A development driven by well being for a successful socio-ecological transition in Europe” through the European Network of Territorial Intelligence, ENTI.

New-LiFE is based on the assumption that a new path of development driven by well-being and ensuring a minimum standard of quality of life for all can be crucial to the success of socio-ecological transition, it must be:

• based on cooperation and territorial observation,

• driven by a plural design of innovation,

• based on co-constructed knowledge across territories and

• animated by a participatory territorial governance.

Territorial intelligence is an emerging concept highly polysemous. This article does not give a comprehensive definition and consensus. Our subject is to take stock of the evolution of our concept of territorial intelligence at the end of the Coordination Action European Network of Territorial Intelligence (caENTI) to present a definition that supports ambition, the research directions and activities of the European Network Territorial Intelligence (ENTI). Our goal is to position the territorial intelligence as an alternative to development models based on economic efficiency in the short term or the central policy authority.

The Catalyse method offers tools of diagnosis, evaluation and observation that are accessible to the local actors of the sustainable territorial development. These tools are useful to draft relevant development projects, to efficiently manage these projects, then to valuate them and to estimate their impact.

These tools that are intended for the actors of the sustainable development respect and favour the principles of participation, global approach and partnership. They facilitate the mobilization of development partnerships that are composed of professionals who work in public services, private organizations and active voluntaries in associations. They guarantee a participative animation of the partnership.