The economic structure of a city, region or country is continuously changing. Shifting economies on a global scale, increasing competition between regions and technological and labor market developments accelerate these changes and raise new challenges for policy makers.
An economic development strategy and roadmap have to be well-based, future oriented and action focused. Within a regional or local economic development strategy particular attention should be paid to innovation and (technology) clusters, as they ‘guarantee’ a prosperous economic future.
Smooth infrastructure systems and optimal infrastructure nodes are nearly always part of an economic development strategy. New investments in infrastructure, seaports, airports and inland logistics hotspots, new partnerships and new technology advanced mobility solutions ask for a combination of vision and market based feasibility. On all geographical levels (international-national-regional), smart logistics and efficient sustainable city distribution systems are on the rise.