FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The results of the trans-national research projects promoted between 2000 and 2006 by the European Spatial Program Observatory Network (ESPON) , and specifically by the one titled The territorial dimension of Lisbon/Gothenburg strategies , gave substance to this thesis and defined common policies and criteria on which to simultaneously develop (within 2020) an economy based on a competitive (Lisbon) and sustainable (Gothenburg) knowledge, in all countries, regions and provinces of the European Union, elaborating a new methodology and applying new measure indicators. All international and national debates arising from this experience led to apply the new criteria to the analysis of Italian provinces, to face the theme of Competitiveness in sustainability: the territorial dimension putting into effects Lisbon/Gothenburg processes in Italian regions and provinces, through the use of an international scientific system that is innovative in terms of geographical “practice”. Such system was adopted by the workgroups promoted by the Italian Geographers Association (A.Ge.I.)