António Covas's article addresses the importance of Intermunicipal Communities (CIM) as critical infrastructure for territorial development in low-density areas. The author argues that the intermunicipal productive system must be considered a priority in public policy formulation and eligible for the national smart territories strategy, although the techno-digital transformation faces significant difficulties in promoting a virtuous circle of development in these regions.
The text emphasizes the need to prepare regional economies, especially CIMs, for the recovery and development strategies outlined in the PRR 2026, PT 2030, PTRR 2034, and PT 2034 programs. Covas identifies nine fundamental areas of intermunicipal common service provision, including public transport with soft mobility, climate measures, local food supply, medical assistance, environmental and cultural services, public safety, administrative services, and education for digital transition.
The article presents a detailed proposal for territorial "smartification" in seven steps, which includes the creation of a representative mission structure, the delimitation of a reference territory with distinctive local brands, the constitution of an operational network actor, the design of iconography and gravitational mapping, the development of collaborative platforms, the elaboration of a network economy, and, finally, a territorial digital marketing strategy.
In the final note, Covas emphasizes that without an intelligent connection led by a network actor dedicated to the common goods and services of CIMs, it will not be possible to achieve concrete results or reduce territorial vulnerability. The author also suggests the creation of arts and technology schools in each CIM and the exploration of the potential of higher education institutions as platform-institutions to promote territorial networking.
