PREFACE

This volume contains the proceedings for the 2nd International Symposium "NEW METROPOLITAN PERSPECTIVES" - Strategic planning, spatial planning, economic programs and decision support tools, through the implementation of Horizon/Europe2020 (ISTH2020_2016), which took place on 18th to 20th May, 2016, in Reggio Calabria, Italy. The Symposium is part of the scientific debate that the University Lab “LaborEst" in partnership with a qualified international network of academic institution and scientific societies, promotes on issues related to the competitiveness of metropolitan cities and inland areas in least developed and developing regions. The event has been organized with the aim to receive contributions from national and international scientific community on integrated development strategies and research according to the directions of Europe 2020 and Horizon 2020. The final reflections of the first edition of ISTH/Europe2020 (2014) round table have demonstrated that the debate on strategies to effectively implement the EU 2020 goals aiming at a greater involvement of cities and regions in the European policies is still open. The territorial cohesion policy at global and local level, including through the assumption by the Commission of the 'smart specialization', better known as approach 'RIS3', has led to controversial discussions, such as on the relationship between specialization and diversification up to question on the current role of knowledge and technologies to the European economy. In addition, the recent European documents, among others the Leipzig Charter, the VI Report on Economic and Social Cohesion, and EU 2020, identified a number of major challenges, such as: the challenge of competitiveness, the knowledge society, the domestic and international accessibility, and the inclusion and social cohesion. In the contest of the second edition of “New Metropolitan Perspectives”, reflections were focused on cities’ ability to implement metropolitan dynamics and to improve their competitiveness while exploiting the virtuous and synergic linkage between urban and rural areas. The aims of the Symposium are: 1. Contributing to the international dialogue, promoting joint research activities according to the objectives of the 2014–2020 programming period. 2. Stimulating the multi-disciplinary scientific debate on the new frontiers of strategic planning, spatial planning, economic programs and decision support tools, within the urban-rural areas networks and the metropolitan cities, best laying in least developed and developing regions. 3. Promoting an holistic approach, through specialized inputs, to resource allocation decision-making and urban/rural spatial organization. Theoretical and experienced-based papers have addressed the main topic through a multidisciplinary perspective, pursuing an integrated approach dealing with strategic planning, spatial planning, economic programs and decision support tools, applied to metropolitan cities and inland areas in least developed and developing regions. Papers’ presentations covered six chapters: (1) URBAN REGENERATION - COMMUNITY-LED PRACTICES AND PPP (2) INLAND AND URBAN AREAS IN TERRITORIAL COHESION STRATEGIES (3) MOBILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, LOGISTICS, INFRASTRUCTURE (4) HERITAGE AND IDENTITY AS DRIVER FOR SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT (5) RISK MANAGEMENT, ENVINRONMENT AND ENERGY (6) ICT AND SMART CITY We would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have contributed to the success of ISTH2020_2016, particularly: x the academic representatives of the University of Reggio Calabria – the Rector Prof. Pasquale Catanoso, the General Manager Marcello S. Zimbone, the ProRector for Research Prof. Claudio De Capua x the Keynote speakers, Pia Laurila, Directorate-General Research & Innovation - EU Commission, Luigi Fusco Girard, Director of the Interdepartmental Centre for Urban Research 'Alberto Calza Bini' and Chair of the international research hub on Urban Regeneration (UN-Habitat), María Rosa Suárez-Inclán Ducassi, ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Cultural Routes (CIIC) x the Scientific Committee, the Scientific Partners and Thematic Sessions’ Chairs, the “Associazione ASTRI” for the organization support activities. The Guest Editors Francesco Calabrò and Lucia Della Spina