Understanding the role of small and medium-sized towns
TOWN [Small and Medium sized Towns in their Functional Territorial Context] was the most ambitious research project at the time, aimed at better understanding spatial patterns, roles and functions of small and medium-sized towns in Europe. The research was carried out by a pool of academic institutions led by Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, and we were recruited by the ESPON Programme to play an advisory role at the project Sounding Board, providing continuous feedback to the Transnational Project Group. The Sounding Board is strongly encouraged to bring in scientific and practical expertise that can be of added value to the project. ESPON (European Spatial Planning Observatory Network) is targeted at analyzing spatial trends in Europe, where cities and urban systems represent core issues.
