We are on the half of the course...
Whilst preparing the conference of Huelva, we are finalizing the drafting of our mid-term report. It is also the mid-term report that leads us to jointly think about the gone through way and the way to be gone through.
The design and drafting of the Territorial Intelligence tools, which is the caENTI main objective, progressed much. Prototypes will be shown in Huelva, in parallel with the communications that will present the research activities on the fundamental methods and on governance. The initial coordination activities already initiated many convergences on two important axes: territorial information and its uses.
The coordination of the research activities on the Territorial Intelligence tools is the main objective of the WP6 activity. In 2006, the latter defined the specifications of information that are useful for the territorial actors to make a diagnosis of the inhabitants' needs, to list the services that are able to meet these needs and to valuate these services in a particular territorial context, according to the CATALYSE method that is used by most of the caENTI actors.
These specifications were established by comparing the experiences and by referring to the existing European standards. The tools specifications were also drafted. Their execution is presently advanced much. The main tools, PRAGMA (quantitative statistical analysis) and ANACONDA (qualitative analysis) in free multi-platform version and online are being tested. Experimentation was initiated in 2006 in six ACCEM territorial observatories in Spain. It allows experimenting in real situation the selected information contents, their understanding by the first line actors, the tools use and their use in the context of a development partnership. This experimentation also allowed drafting an analysis protocol of the territorial information that will allows improving the tools accessibility.
With the concept of community system of territorial intelligence, the WP6 also drafted a framework that allows designing in a coherent way the integration of the analysis functions of the territorial information, the modelling of the treatment protocol of the territorial information, the specifications of the documentary or editorial chain and the modelling of the uses of the territorial community or of the development partnership.
The WP4 aims at improving the dissemination of the spatial analysis and territorial information processing methods and tools within the HSS, and at increasing the territorial information use. It is divided into five scientific coordination activities. The WP4M [Methods] studied three kinds of methods: spatial frameworks where space is divided into discreet spatial units, simulation of the territories spatial dynamics and GIS. Then it worked on a meta-method of territories observation. The WP4I [Information] identified in 2006 the main sources of territorial information that are available for the researchers in Europe, at the European, national, regional and local levels. It studied the indicators use conditions, the metadata information and the comparison with the UN sustainable development indicators. The WP4P [Project] selected 45 European research and action projects supported by the European Commission and belonging to the territorial intelligence field. It also established the General Directions (GDs) did not have data concerning territorial intelligence, except those identified by WP4I. The WP4T [Territory] compared the different disciplinary approaches of territory, studied the territory specification process and identified key-elements concerning the territory: it is a resource set; it is a « construction »; it looks towards future; it can produce specific « territory effects ». The WP4C [Competitiveness] defined and studied the competitiveness factors that influence the regions development (economic structure, innovation, physical-infrastructural and ICT accessibility, qualified human resources, social factors and cultural and natural environment. It identified the most relevant indicators of the territories competitiveness. Two poles progressively constituted about, on the one hand, territorial information (WP4I and WP4P) and, on the other hand, its analysis (WP4M and WP4T).
The WP5 [GOVERNANCE] main commitment is the debate about the ethical and methodological principles which should be respected by the research protocols of human and social sciences, in order their results favour the governance of territorial sustainable development. It performed an analysis of the CAENTI members research experience. On the basis of this experience results assessment, the WP5 members debated about the principles that inspire the practices of the research activity so that it will genuinely contribute to the governance development. It published the report: “Application of the sustainable development governance principles to the territorial research-action”. It is a thinking on the application of the sustainable development governance principles to territorial research-action based on a comparative analysis of the six universities catalogues of experiences By articulating the concepts of territorial governance and territorial intelligence, the WP5 more recently formulated a series of principles which should be respected by the research-action applied to the protocols of territorial development, so as the research processes and results allow promoting a good governance in a knowledge-based society: transformation, multi-dimensionality, partnership, participation, sustainability, transparency, co-responsibility, co-evaluation and co-learning. It will present and debate during the conference of HUELVA the European quality letter of research-action favouring the territorial governance of sustainable development.
The convergences between the coordination activities are organised in relation with two new themes. Territorial information got an unplanned importance within the WP4 and for the WP6 where it became more important than the analysis instruments. The uses of the territorial information tools constitute a transversal thematic that concern the WP6, the WP5 and the WP4 where experience forms are made about the territorial intelligence tools.
After we made an important work to make up an important delay in the reporting, the WP1 [MANAGEMENT] finalizes the mid-term report that adapts the programming and the consortium agreement to the new orientations.
The WP2 [CONFERENCE] is obviously committed in the organisation of the conference of HUELVA, that is organised after the conference of ALBA IULIA which acts have just been published.
Lastly, the WP3 [PORTAL] will present during the conference of HUELVA the new portal of territorial intelligence, with a strong editorial orientation.
