Composition of the research coordination groups:

• UNIBA_DEMDI Research group: Angela Stefania Bergantino (Coordinator and Spoke 7 leader); Mario Intini (Grins critical mass); Alessandro Buongiorno (Grins researcher).
• POLIMI_DAStU Research group: Arturo Lanzani (Grins critical mass - Coordinator); Francesco Curci, Andrea Gritti, Cristina Renzoni (Grins critical mass); Sara Caramaschi, Ettore Donadoni, Marco Voltini (Grins researchers); Maria Aldera, Giacomo Ricchiuto (Grins Ph.D. candidates); Antonio Longo, Cristiana Mattioli, Chiara Nifosì (DAStU professors and researchers).
• UNINA_DiARC Research group: Maria Cerreta, Angela D’Agostino (Grins critical mass); Giovangiuseppe Vannelli (Grins researcher); Nicola Fierro, Maria Somma (Grins post-doc researchers); Teresa Gargiulo (Grins Ph.D. candidate); Giuliano Poli (DiARC researcher); Caterina Mennella, Maria Lucia Raiola, Gennaro Vitolo and Piero Zizzania (DiARC Ph.D. candidates).

Executive summary

Scientific reports constitute the third Deliverable (D.7.3.3) of the WP3 (Spoke 7) Area Specific Planning and are fully within the actions related to the Target 7.3.1 Gap Analysis Reports, one for each territorial typology (M24). The Deliverable is related to the WP3 objective to identify challenges for the transition towards sustainable, attractive, and smart cities and territories with a focus on specific territorial typologies. These are Metropolitan cities, the so-called "Italy in the middle" (i.e. urban areas including mid-size cities and their wider polycentric and low-density urban systems), Inner regions, and Islands.

The primary activities of the Deliverable, conducted in parallel by the research units of UNIBA, POLIMI, UNINA, UNIBO, UNIVE, UNICA, and UNICT, were necessary to address the following key tasks of WP3:

• Task 7.3.1, Integrate data from WP1 with local level data and analysis;
• Task 7.3.2, Identify infrastructures and services digitalization policies to reduce divides between city centers, suburbs, and outskirts;
• Task 7.3.3, Analyze the role of infrastructures and related services on urbanization, residential choices, mobility patterns and choices, firms’ relocation decisions and urban economic integration of inner and marginal areas;
• Task 7.3.4, Estimate the additional costs (network infrastructures, energy, transport) due to insularity or peripherality conditions;
• Task 7.3.7, Design of area-specific strategies for gap/vulnerability reduction and equalization policies.

The work conducted by the working groups up to the 24th month is grounded in the analyses and methodologies established at the national level to create the infrastructure and service gap maps developed within WP1. This effort also builds upon certain findings from the local vulnerability maps completed at a national level, as outlined in Deliverable 3.2 of WP3, adapted to various territorial typologies.

Each report is structured around the development targets specified in European and national plans or strategies, along with benchmarks derived from scientific literature, which are then tailored to the unique characteristics of the Italian context. The reports describe and quantify the gaps present in each territorial typology, utilizing specific indicators related to the relevant topics. They also include references to case study examples and any regional or local policies or initiatives aimed at mitigating these gaps.