DESIRE – Digital Ecosystem for planning Alpine territories’ Integrated Sustainability and Climate Resilience Transition is an Interreg Alpine Space project focused on improving digital, data-driven and participatory spatial planning across Alpine territories.
The overall goal of DESIRE is to develop, validate and support the uptake of a transnational Digital Planning Ecosystem (DPE) that strengthens participatory and data-driven spatial planning at different territorial scales. The project will help Alpine public authorities improve their capacity to plan for climate mitigation and adaptation, using harmonised spatial data, GIS-based thematic maps and scenario analysis. The DPE will be tested through 8 pilots in 6 countries.
The project is organised around three main areas of work:
- Development of the Digital Planning Ecosystem – including standardised GIS mapping methods, a Digital Planning Data Pool, an automated Mapping Engine, and participatory co-planning methods.
- Pilot testing in real planning contexts – interfacing the DPE with existing GIS tools and testing it in 8 pilot territories, supported by Local Advisory Teams and stakeholder participation.
- Capacity building and structural uptake – preparing guidelines, training and e-learning, supporting multi-level governance, establishing a Community of Practice, and implementing a replication programme for additional Alpine municipalities and regions.
Key project figures
- Project duration: 1.9.2026 – 31.08.2029 (36 months)
- Partnership: 10 partners from 6 Alpine countries
- Total project budget: €2,496,968, ERDF contribution: €1,708,926
iiSBE Italia R&D is the WP1 leader of DESIRE and also contributes to all work packages and communication activities. It is responsible for the development of the DPE, leads A1.1, A1.2, A2.4 and A3.5, supports the Italian pilot activities, and coordinates the DESIRE Community of Practice. iiSBE also leads capacity-building activities and the development of the DESIRE e-learning training system in Italy.
iiSBE Italia R&D has a total eligible budget of € 314,012.00, of which € 235,509.00is provided through ERDF funding.
Link to project web page: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/desire/
This project is co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Alpine Space Programme.