Spatial patterns of territorial competitiveness: The role of peripherality, urbanization and physical geography

Competitiveness is a key feature of today’s EU regional policies oriented to reduce the disparities between its territories. Despite being initially conceived as firm-related, since the 1990s the concept has frequently been applied to territorial units. In the contemporary European policy framework, the concept of territorial or regional competitiveness is a central element for both the allocation and design of policies, with the double intent of nurturing and supporting those regions that are best competing in the international market and drive the least competitive ones towards more productive and competitive paths. This is especially relevant when looking at regional economic development and industrial policies, such as those included in the smart specialization strategy. Indeed, these are designed to foster “the national or regional innovation strategies which set priorities in order to build competitive advantage by developing and matching research and innovation own strengths to business needs in order to address emerging opportunities and market developments in a coherent manner, while avoiding duplication and fragmentation of efforts” (Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013, article 2)