Comunis Information exchange pilot regions

SEREC
ASSOCIATION SUISSE POUR LE SERVICE AUX REGIONS ET COMMUNES
SCHWEIZERISCHE BERATUNGSGRUPPE FÜR REGIONEN UND GEMEINDEN
ASSOCIAZIONE SVIZZERA DI SERVIZIO ALLE REGIONI E AI COMUNI

CHÂTEAU-D'OEX - LAUSANNE - TESSERETE - VISSOIE

INTERREG IV-B
Project Comunis
Appraisal on information exchange
in the pilot regions

Facts - Evaluation - Lessons learnt

SEREC, Place de la Poste 1, 3961 Vissoie, Tél. : ++41(0)27 475 60 30
Fax : ++41(0)27 475 60 31, e-mail : chauvie@serec.ch, www.serec.ch

SEREC, François Parvex, Via Bicentenairo 3, CH - 6807 Taverne, Tél. : ++41(0)091 943 61 63
Mobile : ++41 (0)78 654 48 62, e-mail : parvex@serec.ch, www.serec.ch

1. INTRODUCTION
Action 6.3 foresees that: "All partners inseminate the process by their realistic appraisal on how
information exchange takes place in the pilot regions." A factsheet was designed and filled by most
Project Partners. It allowed to identify the partners and groups involved in and outside the regions,
channels and tools used as well as the types of events organized. The participants were also asked to
evaluate the information exchange in the pilot regions and between Project Partners (PP). Finally they
described what they learned about information exchange during the project.

The results are summarized hereunder.

2. FACTS

2.1. PARTICIPANTS
Participants to the work of the pilot regions can be separated into two groups. First the pilot regions'
stakeholders which were Municipal councils, Inter-municipal cooperation institutions, Regional
Managements, Business Associations, Chambers of Commerce, Clusters Organizations, Banks and
obviously Enterprises. Some other participants were also invited to bring their expertise: Administration at
higher level, Experts, Consulting Companies, Schools and Universities and National Alpine Space
Program's (ASP) Contact Points.

2.2. GROUPS CREATED OR INVOLVED
Pilot regions created following groups to develop their projects: Steering Committee / Board of trustees,
Economic Committee and Working groups. They involved their regional bodies, i.e. their Regional
Assembly and their Regional Council.

They also mentioned the group of the Project Partners, which met regularly and held informal contacts, as
well as the transnational tandems of pilot regions.

2.3. CHANNELS USED OR CREATED
the PP worked with a combination of different channels for their information exchange using voice, prints
and digital media:
1. Media: newspapers, radio, television
2. Stakeholders' channels: flyer, Newsletter, municipal brochure, PP's information magazine, mailing
lists, Web pages, telephone conferences
3. Comunis own channels:
a. online project management tool (t-point),
b. mailing lists of Project and Observing Partners as well as a broader list of Dissemination
Partners
c. Web page www.comunis.eu
d. Prints

e. Newsletter
4. In order to complete and facilitate the information and knowledge exchange within and between
the pilot regions as well as with the public in general the PP designed and implemented an
"innovation and entrepreneurship" network/platform, which benefits from developments made in
the context of the knowledge management platform of regiosuisse, the Swiss Network Unit for
Regional Development. The platform contents following elements:
a. Presence on regiosuisse platform through a Project sheet
(http://rapport.planval.ch/ext_project/ext_project_detail.php?projectID=127&languageID=4
) and documents in the download space
(http://www.regiosuisse.ch/download/spezialthemen/comunis)
b. Subgroup of regiosuisse "Public regional Management" group on Linkedin
(http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3203646&trk=hb_side_g)
c. Interventions on several other groups on Linkedin : Urban Planning Group, European
Union Regional and Rural Development Participants, InterReg, MaVille, Territorial
Marketing, Urban Planning Group, Young Professionals in Local Development
d. Interventions on well frequented Web 2.0 platforms like Wikipedia (Inter-municipal land
use planning, Gestione strategica di insediamenti di PMI), slideshare
(www.slideshare.net/Commercial_Land_Planning)
e. Uploading of the main publications on Google Books (https://books.google.com). At the
end of the project it was still not sure that the uploaded documents would pass Google's
approbation's process.
5. ASP channels: Groups on Linkedin (Alpine Space communication network) and Facebook (EU &
Alpine space).

2.4. TOOLS

COMUNIS delivered information through its Web Page, two project presentation leaflets, six newsletters,
the dissemination of the developed BSC-Tool, Guidelines on Commercial Location Development, a
Synthesis Booklet and a Final Publication

For their information exchange, the Pilot Regions used meetings, presentations / conferences, prints,
press articles, an electronic database, PP's intranet, information e-mails, newsletters, minutes,
RSS/ATOM Feeds, Web pages of the Pilot Region and PP. Social networks were also used as Viadeo,
Linkedin or Rezonance.

2.5. TYPES OF EVENTS
Pilot regions organized a lot of meetings, as well face-to-face as on distance using telephone calls,
telephone conferencing through Skype etc. They organized group meetings like workshops (local and
regional), roundtables and seminars like the International Symposium on Industrial Ecology, on January
19-20 2012 in Sion. Project Partners participated to several seminars, organized in the Pilot Regions and
by the Alpine Space Program. Some pilot regions organized field trips or excursions.

3. EVALUATION
Strengths Weaknesses

In general In general
- Direct contact enables fruitful discussions - Concept of “commercial location development” not
- Use of existing channels and mailing lists to disseminate commonly used/well-known in the English language
information (recommendation to use more/promote the national
- automation allows more efficient work processes translations)
- Continuous overview of activities in different pilot areas - Little knowledge of the possible sources of information,
- Online maintenance of contacts and data / information somehow there is a huge amount of potential sources and
facilitate work processes few resources or time to explore it and assimilate it.
- Knowledge / network platforms, ensure the sustainability of - Individual pre-information of involved actors is time
COMUNIS project activities consuming
- Defined roadmap leads to concrete results within defined - Tendency to prefer online / digital over personal
milestones communication
- On a transnational level: language barriers and
communication problems
- Partially low utilization of the extranet (technical support
for websites, extranet etc.)
- Loss of interest in project website when not updated
regularly with relevant and appropriate content
- Excessive duration of data validation

In the pilot regions
In the pilot regions
- Intermediary outputs of the process kept in the working
- Meetings are still the best way to communicate valuable
group, because it's difficult to inform not involved parties
information to local stakeholders (private and public,
on these outputs, lack of background information and
elected representatives and project managers)
region data is sensitive and should not be published in a
- Excursions to already working practice can eliminate the
working process
feeling of being only a forerunner
- Little use of TANDEM work because of not finalized
- Dissemination of news articles about the COMUNIS project
structures in the regions to exchange and ongoing
in the regular publication of own local brochure
politically processes
- Leverage of mass amounts of information into a cohesive
- The frame of a European project isn’t really known to local
database
stakeholders, they are likely to think that it is too
theoretical far from their preoccupations
Opportunities Threats and challenges
In general In general
- Further intensification of cooperation between the - Dynamism and fresh information: websites with updated
organizations and institutions involved in or relevant to the contents, blog, more intensive use of social networks.
process Internet is moving fast!
- Increased use of existing media channels - Loss of information due to the complicated process
- Increased linkage with similar initiatives (repeated entry needed) or technical problems like
- Potential lifelong knowledge acquisition electronic attacks such as viruses, hackers, Trojans
- Mutual exchange of involved actors - Changes in software platforms and technology
- Internet networking platforms facilitate direct exchange, - Technical problems
real time information management and knowledge transfer
- Automation allows more efficient work processes

In the pilot regions In the pilot regions
- Fast and agreed direct process (defined meeting dates, - Political tensions especially in election time/period prevent
meeting topics, agreed by all involved parties at the first people to work efficiently
meeting over a period of at least one year with the goal to - Overcoming parochial politics to see the value for the
achieve a concrete objective at the end of this meeting/ whole valley to start regional thinking
workshop series.)
- TANDEM work should be used as a tool to improve the Challenges
flow of information - Getting all actors together at all dates
- When facing losses of incomes and short budget flexibility, - Keep the actors at the same level of information
the public stake-holders are looking for new ways of finding - Informing and keep politic forces up to date the right way
information, financial means and resources. Thus, they are
likely to think about new partnerships, new governance,
and finding good practices around
- Local stakeholders are developing more and more interest
for European examples concerning CLD and economic
development in general

4. LESSONS LEARNT
As in every cooperation, one must notice that project's stakeholders have different perceptions and / or
expectations concerning the project. Therefore every participant needs to understand the others' points
of views, which can be reached through dialogue and with mental flexibility. In a project like Comunis, all
actors don't perceive the immediate need of action. It is thus difficult to foster and entertain their
1
motivation. Theory tells that the key drivers to entertain motivation are to allow participants to contribute
to the project and grow, be it intellectually, socially, politically or economically. In the political point of view
it is important to take into account wish of reelection as well as personal changes after the elections
themselves.

At the beginning of the project it is fundamental to reach a common understanding between all
stakeholders. Common, clear and transparent objectives and ground rules, i.e. for decision making
processes and problems' resolutions should be defined in a participative way. Not only municipal decision
makers but also NGOs, enterprises, opinion leaders and different citizens' groups should be included in
the negotiation. An official written agreement should be elaborated and applied.

Project's partners mentioned three key success factors for a good information and knowledge transfer
2
during the project, which confirms the theory . They first mention trust, especially between participating
Mayors and Municipalities but obviously between all project's participants. The second factor is openness
to sharing information. The third one is richness of interaction. Theory also mentions positive previous
experience, which facilitates motivation to participate to a new cooperation's project.

At last participants outlined the need for the pilot regions to have a project's promoter who has an
adequate network in order to promote the initiative. This person should be assigned early enough to be in
grade to prepare the project before its launching, implicating the important stakeholders from the
beginning.

SEREC, FP, 120619

1
Clayton P. Alderfer, ERG-Theory (Existence – Relatedness – Growth)

2
Managing Knowledge, Georg von Krogh and Johan Roos, SAGE Publications, 1996

5. ANNEX: FACTSHEETS

Alpsee-Grünten
Metadata / + 49 8321/615-279 Date of entry: 09.05.2011
Contact:

Name of region / Alpsee-Grünten

project
Reference person Fritz Weidlich
Participants to Fritz Weidlich, Sandra Feuerstein, Bosch & Partner GmbH

information
collecting and
dissemination in
the region
Information Newspapers, articles in local brochures, city councils, economic committee, Comunis t-
point tool, Comunis Webpage, Homepage of City of Sonthofen, Comunis Newsletter
exchange
and Mailinglists on tool (pp, observer), meeting with PP, telephone conference
channels
Tools used for Meetings, Prints, E-mail, Extranet, RSS/ATOM Feeds, Webpage, Mailing lists,
Electronic Database, Communities of Practice, Telephone
the information
exchange
Events (incl. date) Date Description
17.04.2012 Workshop with mayors of the municipalities, the mayors of the 4 new
municipalities from the southern parts of Oberallgäu, Bosch & Partner,
external experts, 2 lawyers and an employee from the administration
authority Oberallgäu. During the meeting the following items were on the
agenda: Presentation of the results from the survey which have then been
analysed; discussion and agreement on the draft statute developed by
lawyers; discussion about potential areas available for commercial
development. Moreover, the further steps have been discussed.
01.03.2012 Informing the economic committee about the content and points
discussed during the workshop that took place in February 2012 with the
mayors of the 4 municipalities as well as the 4 mayors of the new partner
municipalities. In addition, it has been pointed out that the second survey
on companies’ commercial land demand is being analysed.
29.02.2012 At the workshop, where mayors of the Alpsee-Grünten region, the mayors
of the 4 new partner municipalities from the southern parts of Oberallgäu,
external experts, Bosch & Partner, 2 lawyers and a member of the district
administration of Oberallgäu participated, the following points have been
discussed: Report about the status of ISEK (urban development concepts)
of the City of Sonthofen with regard to the planning and use of the military
areas in Sonthofen; the status about potential areas for commercial
development in the short and medium term; the draft statute developed by

the lawyers; the next steps of the development process.
24.01.2012 Informing the economic committee about the content of the last workshop
with the new partner municipalities and the indication that a second
survey will be carried out in order to get updated data on companies’
commercial land demand within the region. In addition, it has been stated
that lawyers have been contracted for developing a coherent statute for
the planned special purpose association.
24.11.2011 Constituent meeting with potential new partner municipalities (Bad
Hindelang, Blaichach, Bolsterlang, Burgberg, Fischen, Ofterschwang,
Rettenberg & Sonthofen) where future procedures with regard to the
already planned special purpose association have been discussed.
Moreover, areas that are available for commercial development in the
short and medium term have been specified and discussed. A cost
calculation for the organization of the special purpose association has
been also developed. In addition, some parts of the already existing
statute, for example the voting rights, the regulation about local stock
developments had to be clarified with the new municipalities.
11.08.2011 Workshop with mayors of the Alpsee-Grünten region, external experts and
Bosch & Partner. The following items were on the agenda: clarification
about an expansion of the cooperation with the southern parts of
Oberallgäu; the status of ISEK (urban development concepts) with regard
to the planning and use of the military areas in Sonthofen; potential areas
for commercial development as a substitute for the areas from the city of
Immenstadt; detailed arrangement of the administrative structures of the
planned special purpose association.
19.05.2011 Workshop with mayors of the Alpsee-Grünten region, external experts and
Bosch & Partner. Aim of the workshop was to clarify whether a further
collaboration between the participants can be pursued or not due to a
damaged trust between municipalities in the Alpsee-Grünten region with
regard to the joint tourist association, which is seen as the basis for a joint
commercial location development.
17.02.2011 Informing the economic committee about the common information event
and about the financial report of the COMUNIS project
10.02.2011 Common information event for the city councils of the 5 municipalities in
the Alpsee-Grünten area in order to inform them about the planned
special purpose association.
07.12.2010 Workshop with mayors of the Alpsee-Grünten region, external experts,
Bosch & Partner and members of the district administration of Oberallgäu.
During the workshop the participants finally agreed on the checklist and
discussed further about the cost/benefit analyses and the costs of the
special purpose association. Moreover, they scheduled and prepared the
information event for the local city council which took place on the 10th of
February 2011.
The workshop concentrated on the review and the further development of
the checklist for the draft proposal statute as well as on the preparation of
the local city council meeting of the 5 municipalities. In addition, the cost
benefit analyses for the potential areas have been discussed and the

framework and costs of the special purpose association have been
clarified.
Aim of the workshop was to develop a suitable CLD model for the Alpsee-
Grünten region in order to be able to prepare a draft proposal for a
statute.
24.06.2010 Informing the economic committee about the workshops with the mayors
th
of the Alpsee-Grünten region that took place on the 29 April and on the
th
29 June as well as about the project partner meeting in Sonthofen
Shaping framework for CLD models and their evaluation.
22.04.2010 Informing the economic committee about a field trip that took place on the
th th
18 /19 February, about the companies’ survey determining commercial
land demand, the project partner meeting in Lyon and about the financial
report of the COMUNIS project
Clarification of basics, setting of point for basic CLD models
18./19.02. In collaboration with Bosch & Partner a field trip with the 5 municipalities
of the tourist destination Alpsee -Gruenten was carried out. The aim of
2010
this field trip was to visit three different practice examples of commercial
location development on an inter- municipal level: inter-municipal
businesspark Unterallgäu Mindelheim, Urban Development Association
Ulm/Neu-Ulm (SEV Ulm/Neu-Ulm), Regional Pool on Commercial Areas
Neckar-Alb (REGENA). 20 participants took part, including observers: Mr.
Hensold from the Bavarian Agency for the Environment (LfU) and Mr.
Berktold on behalf of the Observer Landkreis Oberallgäu. The trip was co-
funded by the "Schule für Dorf- und Landentwicklung Thierhaupten" (SDL)
who organised and realised the field trip. An external expert Mr. Raab
(Urban and regional planner, Munich) accompanied and organised the
trip.
22.12.2009 Informing the economic committee about the planned field trip on the
th th
18 /19 February 2010 to three practice examples in southern Germany
for in-depth analysis of advantages and difficulties of the different CLD
strategies
27.10.2009 Informing the economic committee about the status of the COMUNIS
project, the budget and about the project partner meeting in Sierre
28.09.2009 Workshop with mayors of the Alpsee-Gruenten municipalities in order to
inform them about the status of the COMUNIS project and to clarify the
further steps
09.07.2009 Informing the economic committee about the successful proposal of the
COMUNIS project

Evaluation of the Strengths:
information - Dissemination of news articles about the COMUNIS project in the regular
exchange publication of our own local brochure “Stadt Sonthofen”

process - networking platforms facilitate direct exchange & real time information
management
- automation, more efficient work processes
- leverage of mass amounts of information into a cohesive database
- Knowledge platforms provide sustainability
Weaknesses:
- on an international level: language barriers and communication problems
- partially low utilization of the extranet
- regular updating of website content unless loss of users’ interest
- technical support for websites, extranet etc.
Opportunities:
- further intensification of cross-border cooperation
- potential lifelong knowledge acquisition
Threats:
- competing platforms: websites with fresh contents and blogs do move up to top
Google page
- changes in software platforms and technology
- technical problems (loss of data etc)
- electronic attacks such as viruses, hackers, Trojans

Lessons learnt For a far reaching cooperation between municipalities a strong trust between the
responsible of the municipalities as well as between the mayors and the respective
for future projects
municipal council is required. A successful cooperation is only possible when all
partners work without parochial thinking and communicate with each other openly and
regularly.
In addition, the responsible parties must be convinced to cooperate and share the
common objectives. Otherwise the process of cooperation can be impeded or the
cooperation is at risk. In case cooperation is impeded by a municipality, an official
agreement on their further cooperation is necessary.
Moreover, the decision making process has to be transparent and it is also essential to
find simple, fair and transparent problem solutions. Endless negotiations of detailed
regulations in an early stage can lead to a blockade of the cooperation and to a
disregard of important aspects.

Comments -

Délégation de Tarare
Metadata / Florine GONCET : 00 33 4 72 40 82 37 Date of entry: Juillet 2011
Contact:

Name of region / Délégation de Tarare

project
Reference person Florine GONCET
Stéphane BARRAL

Participants to Equipe Délégation de Tarare

information Florine GONCET
collecting and Stéphane BARRAL
dissemination in Rodolphe BERNARD
the region
David PERRUSSEL

Information Meetings (formal and informal) with local stakeholders and within the CCIL (exchange
with European projects managers…
exchange
channels Internet,
Local media and Newsletter.

Tools used for the Internet : viadeo, linked In, Newsletter, Comunis Tpoint toll and website.
information Prints : Newsletter, Comunis flyers and newsletter,
exchange Meetings : Minutes,

All along Participation in businesses association meetings.
the year
Every 2 CCIL-Délégation de Tarare Newsletter :
months
http://www.lyon.cci.fr/site/cms/25650/Abonnez-vous-aux-Newsletters-de-la-
CCI-de-Lyon
10 Sept Meeting with French contact point and observer partner.
2010
Recall on the COMUNIS project, Progresses, Next step, success and
difficulties and financial issues.
16 Sept Interreg seminar organized by Rhône-Alpes Region
2010 Participants: CCIL-Délégation de Tarare; project partners within the ASP…
June ASP Mid-terme conference
2011
12 Oct Meeting about the Project “village d’accueil”: politique d’accueil du
2010
territoire
Participants: CCIL, 4 Communautés de Communes involved in the
project, Conseil Général through the elected representative.

Content: Agreement of the stakeholders involved to continue the
project. Organization of the project: financial means and resources.
Preparation of the answer to the call for project from the DATAR.

19 Oct Meeting with the new general manager of the CC du pays de
2010 & 09
l’Arbresle
Nov 2010
Participants: CCIL; CCPA
Content: General introduction about the CCIL-Délégation de Tarare:
activities, resources etc.
nd
2 meeting dedicated to COMUNIS project: CCPA’s expectations &
needs, actions and framework… recall on the previous step and
presentation of the future actions.

25 Oct Meeting about “Village d’accueil”; politique d’accueil.
2010
Participants: CCIL-Délégation de Tarare; 4 communauté de
Comunes, Conseil Général
Content: Following the previous meeting: Presentation of the call for
project answer; Presentation and validation of the budget plan.
Accordance of financial budget and expenses commitment from the
ComCom.

27 Oct Meeting with the Economic project manager at CC des Haut du
2010
Lyonnais
Participants: CCIL-Délégation de Tarare; CCHL
Content: General introduction about the Délégation de Tarare
(Activities, resources etc.), presentation of Comunis project,
discussion about the brochure.

09 Dec Meeting with 3 ComCom
2010
Participants: CCIL-Délégation de Tarare; ADERLY; CCCL, CCPT,
CCPAT
Content: Presentation of the brochures + feedbacks + validation of
concept…

16 Dec Meeting at CCPA
2010
Participants: CCIL-Délégation de Tarare, CCPA (General-project-
communication manager)
Content: Brochure, validation concept, feedbacks etc…

07 Janv meeting with ComCom de la Haute Vallée d’Azergue
2011
Participants: CCIL-Délégation de Tarare; General manager of

CCHVA
Content: General introduction about the CCIL-Délégation de Tarare
and Comunis project.
Brochure: construction, validation of concept etc.

24 Janv meeting with 3 businesses associations
2011
Participants: CCIL-Délégation de Tarare; DSTAT (CCIL);
TararEvolution, CEOL, InterPro de Cours la ville.
Content: Transport infrastructure scheme, SWOT analysis of the
area, Comunis Framework, presentation of the brochure and coming
actions/topics

03/03/201 Meeting with project managers of Communauté de Communes: L’arbresle,
1 Tarare, Amplepuis thizy and Saint Symphorien sur Coise.
Content: Comunis project: running and coming actions… validation of the
brochure etc.

information -Internet does facilitate the knowledge transfer.
exchange -Meetings are still the best way to communicate valuable information to local
process stakeholders (private and public, elected representatives and project managers). (from
my point of view).
Weaknesses:
-Language barriers: very few local stakeholders understand English.
-Few knowledge of the possible sources of information, somehow there is a huge
amount of potential sources and few resources or time to explore it and assimilate it.
-The frame of a European project isn’t really known to our local stakeholders, they are
likely to think that it is too theoretical and inefficient.
Opportunities:
-Local stakeholders are developing more and more interest for European examples
concerning CLD and economic development in general.
-When facing losses of incomes and short flexibility budget , the public stake-holders
are looking for new ways of finding information, financial means and resources. Thus,
they are likely to think about new partnerships and finding good practices around.
Threats:
-Dynamism and fresh information, Internet is moving fast.
-Political atmosphere especially in election time/period.

Lessons learnt for I learned that local authorities, businesses and CCI don’t really have the same way of
thinking and talking about economic development and project in general. I learnt to
future projects
study more and adapt to the environment of my interlocutor. Moreover, both of
interlocutors might not have the same objectives so it is essential to open the dialog and
to use, somehow, the “same language”; (basics of cooperation and partnership).
For instance, the first time I came to talk about COMUNIS project to one of the Commu-
nauté de communes, they were not really up to participate. I realized afterwards that I

presented the project and the actions, according to what I was expected from it and not
from his side…
Never forget that an elective representative often keep in mind his reelection.
Each structure/organization has its own purposes and competences, it is essential, into
a cooperation and partnership spirit, to respect it and use it when require.

Comments -

Valais romand
Metadata / Nathalie Stumm Date of entry: 17.04.2012
Contact:

Name of region / Valais romand

project
Reference person Nathalie Stumm
Participants to HES-SO, Antenne Régionsvalaisromand, Etat du Valais, CleantechALPS, Ville de
Sierre, Ville de Sion, Ville de Martigny, Ville de Monthey,
information
collecting and
dissemination in
the region
Information Canal 9, Walliser Bote, Le Nouvelliste, Rhone FM, RRO, Rezonance

exchange
channels
Tools used for the Internet (mails), phone
information
exchange

International 09.09.201 Due to the institutional reorganization of the Valais romand, revision
0 of project related attributions of the organizations which are implied
Symposium on in the project’s phase of implementation.
Industrial Ecology
16.09.201 Presentation of the history of the cantonal project of industrial
0 ecology. Agreement on the deliverables of the implementation
phase and design of a bill book of the activities of implementation.
28.09.2010 Definition of industrial ecology by Mr. Suren Erkman - professor at
the University of Lausanne, director of the institute of territorial
policies and of human environment - with concrete examples, of
which the experiment of the Iles Falcon. Presentation of the project
carried out by Provins, discussion on opportunity of improvements
of the zone “la Drague”.
13.01.2011 Following the decision to organize the international symposium on
industrial ecology, following questions were raised: who does what? what
could be the topics covered? What is actually the concept of this
symposium? It was decided to prepare a first draft of the program, contact
Mr. Erkman, and clarify the available dates for this symposium.
23.02.2011 Attempt to clarify the registration procedure on the Internet
(Amiando) and the participation of Mr. Délétroz group of students
for the preparation of this symposium in the option "Event
Management". New version of the program following Mr. Erkman’s
responses, first budget outline.
30.06.2011 Presentation of the project of industrial ecology of Chablais, its
objectives and calendar components, its first results so as next

steps. Coordination of the intercantonal development of the project.
19-20.01.12 1st International Symposium of Industrial Ecology - Environmental
performance of firms and territories.

Evaluation of the Information exchange is considered entirely satisfactory. Only certain lengths related to
the data validation process before publication created delays in house and therefore
information
demanded more flexibility from partners in the chain end.
exchange
process
Lessons learnt for It is important that information is transmitted directly to the person in charge of
the operational part of the project. Otherwise the risk is great that information is
future projects lost and remains ineffective. The higher the number of intermediaries, the more
effective is the risk.
Comments -

Lamoro Local Development Agency
Metadata / +39 0141/595798 Date of entry: 31/08/2011
Contact:

Name of region / Lamoro Local Development Agency
project
Reference person Valentina Scioneri
Participants to Valentina Scioneri, Silvia Lodato

information
collecting and
dissemination in
the region
Information Newspapers, town councils, Comunis Webpage, Homepage of Lamoro, Comunis
Newsletter and Mailinglists on tool (pp, observer), telephone conference, e-mails
exchange
channels
Tools used for Meetings, Prints, E-mail, Webpage, Mailing lists, Electronic Database, Telephone

the information
exchange
27.07.2011 Presentation of LAMORO’s pilot project activities, first results and
th
exchange of experiences during the 5 Partners meeting, held in Asti the
th th
27 and 28 of July.
11.07.2011 Roundtable with Moncalieri Municipality about the status of COMUNIS
project and about the implementation of LAMORO’s pilot project.
Discussion about the presentation of Moncalieri experience during the
transnational meeting
21.06.2011 Roundtable with Nizza Monferrato, municipality involved in LAMORO’s
pilot area. Information exchange about progress within the project and
discussion on next steps and development of the pilot activity.

29.04.2011 Coordination of pilot project activity with the involvement of a PhD
researcher in Economy, in order to study further strategies about
LAMORO’s pilot activities.

20.04.2011 Roundtable with Calamandrana Municipality, involved in LAMORO’s pilot
project, in order to present COMUNIS project and its first results, outputs
and to clarify next steps.
14.04.2011 Informing the Municipality of Canelli, involved in LAMORO’s pilot project,
about the status of the COMUNIS project, the budget and about next
steps

30.03.2011 Discussion with the PhD researcher in Economy about COMUNIS next
steps and the way of implementation of LAMORO’s pilot activity.

Moncalieri’s agreement on COMUNIS project.
24.12.2010
20.7.2010 Information to Moncalieri Municipality about COMUNIS project, its
objectives, aims and activities

information - networking platforms facilitate direct exchange & real time information
exchange management

process - Knowledge platforms, that ensure the sustainability of COMUNIS project
activities
Weaknesses:
- on a transnational level: language barriers and communication problems
- technical support for websites, extranet etc.
- small use of TANDEM work
Opportunities:
- further intensification of cross-border cooperation
- potential lifelong knowledge acquisition
- TANDEM work should be used as a tool to improve the flow of information
Threats:
- competing platforms: websites with updated contents, blog, more intensive use
of social networks
- technical problems (loss of data etc)
- electronic attacks such as viruses, hackers, Trojans

Lessons learnt Connecting and create links among municipalities is one of the main aim of COMUNIS
pilot actions. We found some difficulties in developing a process of cooperation among
for future projects
municipalities, such as the change of mayors and administrations.
What we suggest, is to develop a cooperation through the establishment of focus
groups, municipal and inter-municipal made by local stakeholders in order to foster the
dialog among municipalities. In fact, the main big challenge is to enable municipalities to
begin a cooperation through a dialogue and confrontation system based on regular
meetings, bilateral round tables and conferences involving also the SMEs and private
bodies in a wider development perspective.

Comments -

Großes Walsertal (Great Walser Valley)
Metadata / +43 5579 7171 43 Date of entry: 11-09-11
Contact:

Name of region / Großes Walsertal (Great Walser Valley)
project
Reference person Franz Rüf
Participants to Regionalentwicklung Vorarlberg, Franz Rüf
information Raiffeisen Landesbank, Genossenschaftsverband, Jürgen Kessler
collecting and Vorarlberger Gemeindeverband, Otmar Müller
dissemination in ISK Institut für Standort-, Regional- und Kommunalentwicklung
the region
Mayors of Sonntag, Thüringerberg, St. Gerold, Blons, Raggal

Information Meetings, direct emails, Presentations, (no media appearance in the preparation and
founding phase)
exchange
channels
Tools used for the email, print outs, ppt-presentations, flyer, excursions
information
exchange
10-03-03 Coreteam meeting Groß Walsertal
10-03-25 Mayor Information Groß Walsertal
10-04-21 Board of Trustees meeting Groß Walsertal
10-05-08 Excursion to Sulzberg
10-05-31 Info for regional assembly
10-06-17 Presentation and discussion on the board of Raiffeisen Landesbank
10-09-27 St.Gerold Regional Council – Project Information
10-10-18 Meeting of Mayors and regional state bank
st
10-11-16 1 preparation meeting for founding assembly
nd
rd

information • Excursions to already working practice can eliminate the feeling of beeing
exchange only a forerunner
process • Direct contact enables fruitful discussions
• Defined roadmap leads to concrete results within defined milestones

Weaknesses:

• Individual pre-information of involved actors is time consuming
• Intermediary outputs of the process kept in the working group, because it's
difficult to inform not involved parties on this outputs, lack of background
information

Opportunities:

• Fast and agreed direct process
• Mutual exchange of involved actors

Challenges:

• Getting all actors together at all dates
• Keep the actors at the same level of information
• Informing and keep politic forces up to date the right way
Lessons learnt for The inter-municipal activities and already the definition of objectives can in principle
only be prepared by decision makers of the communities. Ideally, within externally
future projects
moderated events. In this process not only political representatives of local
communities, but also NGOs, opinion leaders, citizens' groups should be integrated.
The definition of the targets should be done in a kind of mission statement process,
whereby results are not only general statements, but quantitative information that can
be compared with the inventory analysis at the level of the indicators. Starting point of
this process is an expressions of interest (Milestone 1 in the CLD process) for the
preparation of a proposal for the adaptation or creation of new structures / models
Cooperation of the involved parties. Depending on requirements, the process can be
more focused on a specific model and methodological guidelines to be applied or
intrinsically more dynamic.
The result of the cooperation process is a jointly developed and supported basis for a
decision for or against the implementation to be made. In the case of a positive decision
an action plan will be developed for implementation. This means that the objectives and
operational strategies which are binded the political forces and interests are coordinated
and the selected model is in consent.

Comments -

Leiblachtal
Metadata / +43 5579 7171 43 Date of entry: 11-09-2011
Contact:

Name of region / Leiblachtal
project
Reference person Franz Rüf
Participants to Regionalentwicklung Vorarlberg, Franz Rüf
information Raiffeisen Landesbank, Genossenschaftsverband, Jürgen Kessler
collecting and Vorarlberger Gemeindeverband, Otmar Müller
dissemination in ISK Institut für Standort-, Regional- und Kommunalentwicklung
the region
Mayors and stakeholders of Lochau, Hörbranz, Hohenweiler, Möggers, Eichenberg

Information Workshop series on Commercial Location Development with the goal to establish
structures in the region for inter-municipal cooperations and commercial site policy.
exchange
channels
Tools used for the Workshops, Emails and Presentations, general Information about the process in digital
news websites, Excursions
information
exchange
10-05-08 Excursions to the existing Good Practice Example of the PSG (cooperation
10-05-28 for location management) in Sulzberg
10-06-28 Information meetings for the members of the municipal councils of Lochau,
10-07-06 Hörbranz, Hohenweiler, Möggers, Eichenberg
11-01-26
11-02-03 Lochau, Formation of the Working group
11-03-21 Lochau, Analyse inventory data, structural data, comparability, weeknesses
11-04-13 Hohenweiler, Analyse the challenges and opportunities
11-05-09 Hörbranz, Formulation of objectives and strategies
11-06-15 Eichenberg, Development of proposed actions to implement the strategies
11-09-12 Möggers, Defining the organization and operation structures
11-11-07 Lochau: Preparatory measures for operation structures

information • Excursions to already working practice can eliminate the feeling of beeing
exchange only a forerunner
process • Direct contact enables fruitful discussions
• Defined roadmap leads to concrete results within defined milestones

Weaknesses:

• Individual pre-information of involved actors is time consuming
• Intermediary outputs of the process kept in the working group, because its
difficult to inform not involved parties on this outputs, lack of background
information

Opportunities:

• Fast and agreed direct process
• Mutual exchange of involved actors

Challenges:

• Getting all actors together at all dates
• Keep the actors at the same level of information
• Informing and keep politic forces up to date the right way
Lessons learnt for The inter-municipal activities and already the definition of objectives can in principle
only be prepared by decision makers of the communities. Ideally, within externally
future projects
moderated events. In this process not only political representatives of local
communities, but also NGOs, opinion leaders, citizens' groups should be integrated.
The definition of the targets should be done in a kind of mission statement process,
whereby results are not only general statements, but quantitative information that can
be compared with the inventory analysis at the level of the indicators. Starting point of
this process is an expressions of interest (Milestone 1 in the CLD process) for the
preparation of a proposal for the adaptation or creation of new structures / models
Cooperation of the involved parties. Depending on requirements, the process can be
more focused on a specific model and methodological guidelines to be applied or
intrinsically more dynamic.
The result of the cooperation process is a jointly developed and supported basis for a
decision for or against the implementation to be made. In the case of a positive decision
an action plan will be developed for implementation. This means that the objectives and
operational strategies which are binded the political forces and interests are coordinated
and the selected model is in consent.

Comments -

Passeiertal / Val Passiria
Metadata / +39-0471-055 326 Date of entry: 30.04.2012
Contact:

Name of region / Passeiertal / Val Passiria
project
Reference person Miriam L. Weiß
Participants to Miriam L. Weiß, Dr. Thomas Streifeneder
information
collecting and
dissemination in
the region
Information Presentations + conferences, workshop and working group participation (local,
regional), COMUNIS flyer + newsletters, COMUNIS tpoint-management tool, COMUNIS
exchange
website (www.comunis.eu), project website on homepage of the European Academy of
channels Bolzano (http://www.eurac.edu/en/research/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?pid=7699),
mailing list, meetings with PP, EURAC intranet, meetings with observer, participation in
events in the pilot area

Tools used for the Emails, letters, prints, phone calls, newsletters, working groups, meetings, websites,
discussion, presentations, press articles (e.g. EURAC research magazine “Academia”)
information
exchange

19.04.2012 Elected member to the jury voting for a wood bridge to be built in
Passeiertal connecting two commercial zones in the area.

09.02.+ Participation in meetings of Core Group “Initiative Holz Passeier”. Topic:
28.03.2012 Discussion on various topics, e.g. realization of wood bridge (promoting
use of local wood) which connects two commercial zones in Passeiertal.

03.02.2012 Workshop with municipal stakeholders (mayors, head of Konsortium
Passeier Wirtschaft, observer Business Location Südtirol-Alto Adige,
EURAC staff). Title: Quo vadis Passeiertal? Topic: Discussion on inter-
municipal cooperation and CLD and future fields of action and strategy.

31.05.2011 Participation in meeting of Working Group “Planning commercial sites”.
Topic: Finalization of criteria for new commercial sites; submission to
provincial government.

Topic: Definition of criteria “where” and “how” to develop new commercial
zones in South Tyrol. EURAC’s contributions build on knowledge about
the situation in Passeiertal.

Topic: Best practices for CLD as input for criteria for location definition
and development procedure of commercial zones in South Tyrol. Building
on experiences from COMUNIS/Passeiertal, EURAC provided feedback.

Topic: Definition of topics important for CLD in South Tyrol. EURAC
provides feedback from pilot area Passeiertal and experiences from
COMUNIS project; promotes advantages of inter-municipal CLD.

04.08.2010 Bilateral meeting with observer Business Location Südtirol (BLS) to report
on situation analysis in the pilot area Passeiertal.

01-03/2010 COMUNIS presentation to and interview with municipal stakeholders and
+ 07/2010 district community to analyze the situation for inter-municipal CLD in the
pilot area (bi- and multilateral meetings).

26.01.2010 Presentation of the COMUNIS-project to South Tyrolean mayors, South
Tyrol’s association of municipalities, provincial government
representatives. Dissemination of newsletter + flyer.

Following Dissemination of the project newsletters in the pilot area
publication

04.08.2009 Meeting with Business Location Südtirol (BLS) to discuss framework for
cooperation

information - Dissemination of project newsletter via existing channels & mailing lists.
exchange - Network platforms to facilitate direct exchange on project topic & related ideas.
process - Continuous overview of activities in different pilot areas.
- Online maintenance of contacts and data/information facilitate work processes.

Weaknesses:
- Loss of interest in (project) website when not updated regularly with relevant and
appropriate content.
- Technical problems: loss of data leads to loss of time (repeated entry needed)
- Tendency to prefer online/digital over personal communication.
- Concept of “commercial location development” not commonly used/well-known in
the English language (recommendation to use more/promote the national
translations)

Opportunities:
- Further intensification of cooperation between the organizations/institutions
involved in/relevant to the process.
- Increased use of existing media channels.
- Increased linkage with similar initiatives.

Threats:
Dissemination of unfinished materials, publications.

Lessons learnt for Cooperation in this field requires a great deal of willingness on the part of and mutual
trust between the major municipal stakeholders. It is a challenge to create or foster such
future projects
willingness if there is not perceived an immediate need for action.
Additionally, the decision-making process is rendered more difficult in the absence of

legal enforcement or framework conditions which facilitate/encourage the initiative.
A so-called “promoter” in the pilot region – who supports the initiative and disposes of
an adequate network – would be helpful in the process.

Comments -

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