The geography of the “twin transition”: mapping the regional combination of the green and the digital transition

Scientific Responsible: ROBERTO ANTONIETTI

Project objectives: Drawing from various regional research areas, the project aims to construct a conceptual framework for the geography of the twin transition (TT) at the regional level, within which to identify resources, capabilities, drivers, and mechanisms. The planned activities will include a phase of data collection and classification, both primary and secondary, through which a mapping of European regions will be conducted regarding their endowment of cutting-edge digital technologies, cross-referencing their "environmental impact" with their "impact on the environment. "Based on this, the project will verify the overlap between the geography of TT and the geography of European regions, distinguishing between core and peripheral areas. Additionally, the project will conduct a series of empirical analyses to determine the extent to which the territorial nature (e.g., rural vs. urban) of regions, their techno-economic complexity, and the presence of different types of agglomeration economies (e.g., specialization vs. variety) may moderate the environmental impact of digital technologies and their applications for the environment. Finally, the research team will analyze to what extent the TT policies designed by European recovery plans can be implemented at the local level, intersecting with other political tools at the regional level, such as Cohesion Policies and Smart Specialization Strategies.

Grantor: MUR - PRIN

Duration: 8/10/2023 - 17/10/2025

Partners:

• University of Padova, dSEA
• Gran Sasso Science Institute

dSEA staff involved:

• Roberto Antonietti
• Marco Bettiol
• Eleonora Di Maria

Website:

• www.geotwin.org
• www.geotwin.it