Why a challenge-oriented approach is a good match for the needs and challenges of EU Cohesion Policy

The policy brief discusses how a challenge-oriented approach to place-based innovation policies can bring added value to EU Cohesion Policy. In so doing, it looks at the potential implications of a challenge-led logic on three dimensions: the rationale of Cohesion Policy, its operational aspects as well as its challenges in terms of governance and coordination. Three areas are explored: how a challenge-driven logic can offer a deliberative approach to formulate challenge-oriented territorial development priorities in the context of Cohesion Policy; how the challenge-oriented approach can provide an optimal coordination framework to consolidate and streamline public investments from across policy areas and governance levels; how it can reinforce stakeholders engagement in Cohesion Policy around localised challenges and help build challenge-oriented partnerships.