Its approach is based on the idea that hard and tangible factors (such as physical and digital infrastructures and their funding sources) interact with soft and intangible factors (such as social cohesion and inclusion, environment, mobility, entrepreneurial capacity, cultural and tourism heritage, etc.) to shape the ability of territories to face challenges and thrive in the long term.

The main objectives of this research area include:

• Defining and evaluating policies. It aims to develop data-driven guidelines for the design of policies and strategies that make territories attractive and accessible to residents, migrants, tourists, and businesses. This contributes to fostering sustainable economic development and improving quality of life.
• Reducing disparities. Another key goal is to identify tools for reducing internal and external inequalities within and across territories. This means addressing disparities between regions and cities, as well as within them, to ensure a fairer distribution of opportunities and benefits and to strengthen the economic sustainability of territories.
• Working across different territorial scales. The research area addresses a wide variety of geographical contexts, including places of different sizes, marginal areas, islands, and regions such as Southern Italy. This requires tailoring policies and strategies to the specific characteristics of each territory.