Franche-Comté new case project in WP8 (cooperation among towns) : Research on the territorial organisation of Franche-Comté Local endogenous development and urban regeneration of small alpine towns Background  lack of attractiveness of the Franche-Comté territory (2005 analysis from the National Statistic Institute)  shape of small towns (handicap : national financial supports are mainly aimed at bigger towns) AlpCity – Meeting Besançon 12 & 13 th December 2005 Need of a dynamic overview of the territorial organisation, which takes the interconnexions with its neighbours (Bourgogne, Alsace, Rhône-Alpes, Switzerland…) into account What types of towns/groups of towns are at stake as far as local attractiveness is concerned? Which means of actions have to be privileged to develop attractiveness?

Franche-Comté new case project : Research on the territorial organisation of Franche-Comté Local endogenous development and urban regeneration of small alpine towns Objectives  To propose an identification of polarization systems (employment and services mainly) which structures the regional territory,  To analyse the hierarchical organisation of existing poles and their links,  To test the efficiency of some usual spatial divisions and in some cases to redefine them or to give other, which are more adapted to regional characteristics, AlpCity – Meeting Besançon 12 & 13 th December 2005 Expected benefits To improve the structural and dynamic knowledge of the regional space in view of : - identifying networks of main towns and their surrounding villages (existing of (in)formal network/connections between small towns), - analysing regional policies and adapting them to local context and relationships

Franche-Comté new case project : Research on the territorial organisation of Franche-Comté Local endogenous development and urban regeneration of small alpine towns Description Based on spatial analysis, the study will be carried out in 3 steps : 1.Status of the art (analysis methods adapted to the study issues. The aim is to discuss the pros and cons of each method to choose the ones to be developed in this project) 2.Analysis based of selected criteria, obtained results will be presented, discussed and should give a model vision of the organisation of the regional territory, 3.Results analysis and study report AlpCity – Meeting Besançon 12 & 13 th December 2005

Franche-Comté new case project : Research on the territorial organisation of Franche-Comté Local endogenous development and urban regeneration of small alpine towns Manager of the study : University of Franche-Comté – laboratory ThéMA. AlpCity – Meeting Besançon 12 & 13 th December 2005 Partners Steering committee set up gathering local authorities and research institutes - ENASAD (INRA), INSEE, planning agencies of Besançon, Belfort, Montbéliard, municipality of Besançon, economic development agency of the Haute-Saône Département, Natural Régional Park of Haut-Jura,… Timeschedule 24th November 2005 : 1st technical committee December 05 and March 06 : intermediary reports May 2006 : Study final report  Dissemination of the results in scientific committees or at a international conference.

Franche-Comté new case project : Research on the territorial organisation of Franche-Comté Local endogenous development and urban regeneration of small alpine towns Budget : 54,000 € (included study costs : 46,300 €) ERDF expected : 23,150 € AlpCity – Meeting Besançon 12 & 13 th December 2005 Links with AlpCity  Background of medium-sized mountains combined to territorial division : region located between the Rhine axis north and the Rhone axis south, between tow mountains (Vosges north-west and Jura south).  Additional material for the overall problematic of AlpCity : promotion and deepening of territorial knowledge, identification of means of action to promote urban-rural balance & to reinforce attractiveness of small towns by maintaining their economy, jobs and quality of life.  A study methodology focusing on developing good practices transferable to other studies/territories : analysis of usual definition criteria of territories and anticipation of potential adaptation to local specificities.