The second edition of the "NEW METROPOLITAN PERSPECTIVES” International Symposium will be specifically dedicated to the main topic: “Strategic planning, spatial planning, economic programs and decision support tools. Contributions for a multidisciplinary integrated approach, through the implementation of Horizon/Europe2020" (ISTH2020).
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 is 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 (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 are welcome 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.

Papers should address the main topic through a multidisciplinary perspective, pursuing an integrated approach in order to deal with strategic planning, spatial planning, economic programs and decision support tools, applied to metropolitan cities and inland areas in least developed and developing regions.

Theoretical and experienced-based contributions that fit with the following themes are welcome:

(1) URBAN REGENERATION - COMMUNITY-LED PRACTICES AND PPP
Keywords: Transforming, Participating, Consultation, Negotiating, Cooperating,
New Governance, Marginal areas, Social Housing

(2) INLAND AND URBAN AREAS IN TERRITORIAL COHESION STRATEGIES
Keywords: Competitiveness, Intersectorality, Cohesion, Value Chains,
Local Production Systems

(3) MOBILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, LOGISTICS, INFRASTRUCTURE
Keywords: Domestic and International Transport, Inter-modality,
Management Plan, Smart Mobility

(4) HERITAGE AND IDENTITY AS DRIVER FOR SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
Keywords: Preservation, Conservation, Enhancement, Management,
Tangible and Intangible Heritage, Tourism

(5) RISK MANAGEMENT - INCREASING RESILIENCE TO HUMAN/NATURAL HAZARDS
Keywords: Seismicity, Hydrogeological Imbalance, Soil Protection, Pollution,
Hazard, Vulnerability, Exposure

(6) ENVINRONMENT AND ENERGY
Keywords: Green and Blue Economy, Consumption and Energy Saving,
Renewable Sources, Climate Change, Waste Management

(7) ICT E SMART CITY
Keywords: Decision Support System, Mobile Systems, Social Networking,
Big Data, Municipal Resource Planning

(8) OTHER

Submitted papers will be carefully peer-reviewed by at least two experts, chosen by subject/area, and evaluated on originality, significance, technical accuracy and clarity of exposition.

Accepted papers will be published in Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences (ISSN: 1877-0428) by ELSEVIER, indexed by ScienceDirect, and submitted for indexing by Scopus and Thomsons’s Web of Science (CPCI).
The Proceedings from the past edition of this Symposium (New Metropolitan Perspectives_2014, available at http://www.isth2020.org/proceedings2014) are already indexed in the Thomson Reuters (WoS) Conference Proceedings Citation Index.

Among other publication opportunities, the Organizing Committee will submit a special issue proposal to Regional Studies: The Journal of the Regional Studies Association, published by Taylor & Francis.

Regional Studies is an international, peer-reviewed journal publishing high-quality, original research. 2014 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.372 (2015 Thomson Reuters, 2014 Journal Citation Reports) link: Regional Studies Website.

Decisions on focus and selection criteria of the Special Issue Proposal will be taken by the Scientific Committee collectively. If selected, authors will be asked to submit an extended versions of the accepted papers.
Further information and details will be given in due course on the official website.