Associate Professor (L. 240)
Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST)
- Member of Interdepartmental Center R3C - Responsible Risk Resilience Centre
- Vice Coordinator Academic Board - Ph.D. programme in Urban and Regional Development
Profile
Research interests
Biography
Giancarlo Cotella is Associate Professor of spatial planning at Politecnico di Torino. He serves as Secretary General of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) His research focuses on the comparative analysis of of spatial governance and planning systems in Europe and beyond and on the mutual influence between European Union territorial governance and domestic spatial governance and planning. More in particular, in his research he explored the evolution and impact of the EU cohesion policy and related programmes and initiatives on the Member States' cities and regions. He conducted research on spatial development trends and evidence based policy-making since 2005, with a particular attention for the indentification and transferability of good practices, the metropolisation of territorial goveranance, the sustainability of land-use and the just green transitions towards a carbon neutral society. Through time, he has been teaching and researching in numerous universities in Europe and beyond, and has published widely in the international scientific literature, with over 100 articles and book chapters. He coordinated and/or participated in several international research projects, among which it is worth mentioning a number of pan-European researches conducted within the framework of the European Territorial Observatory Network ESPON: - METRO - The role and future perspectives of Cohesion Policy in the planning of Metropolitan Areas and Cities (https://www.espon.eu/metro); - SUPER - Sustainable Urbanization and land-use Practices in European Regions (https://www.espon.eu/super); - COMPASS - Comparative Analysis of Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning Systems in Europe (https://www.espon.eu/planning-systems); - ReSSI - Regional Strategies for Sustainable and Inclusive Territorial Developmen (https://www.espon.eu/ressi); - URRUC - Urban-rural connections in non-metropolitan areas (https://www.espon.eu/URRUC); - TANGO - Territorial Approaches for New Governance (https://www.espon.eu/programme/projects/espon-2013/applied-research/tango-territorial-approaches-new-governance); - SMART-IST - Smart Institutions for Territorial Development (https://www.espon.eu/programme/projects/espon-2013/targeted-analyses/smart-ist-smart-institutions-territorial-development); - FOCI - Future Orientation for Cities (https://www.espon.eu/programme/projects/espon-2013/applied-research/foci-future-orientation-cities); - 2.3.1 - Apllications and Effects of the ESDP in the Member States (https://www.espon.eu/programme/projects/espon-2006/policy-impact-projects/application-and-effects-esdp-member-states); - 2.3.2 - Governance of Territorial and Urban Policies (https://www.espon.eu/programme/projects/espon-2006/policy-impact-projects/governance-territorial-and-urban-policies).
Curriculum
Scientific branch
(Area 0008 - Civil engineering and architecture)
Research topics
- Comparative spatial governance and planning research
- Mobility and Rural Accessibility in Europe
- Spatial development and governance in the Western Balkan Region
Skills
ERC sectors
SDG
Awards and Honors
- Finanziamento delle attività base di ricerca conferred by MIUR, Italy (2017)
Fellowships
- Secretary - AESOP - Association of Europan Schools of Planning, Belgio (2023-)
- Effective member - RSA - Regional Studies Association, Regno Unito (2016-)
- Steering Committe member - AESOP - Association of European Schools of Planning, regione non valida o sconosciuta (2015-2019)
- Scientific Coordinator - AESOP Thematic Group "Transboundary Spaces, Policy Diffusion, Planning Cultures", regione non valida o sconosciuta (2015-2022)
- Fellow - A. von Humboldt Foundation, Germania (2010-2011)
A. von Humboldt Post-doctoral Research Fellow - Executive Committee member - AESOP - Association of European Schools of Planning, Belgio (2007-2013)
- Executive Committee member - AESOP Young Academics Network, Belgio (2006-2009)
Editorial boards
- EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT (2020-), Editor of magazine, editorial series, encyclopaedia
- PLANNING, PRACTICE & RESEARCH. (2018-), Editor of magazine, editorial series, encyclopaedia
- EUROPEAN SPATIAL RESEARCH AND POLICY (2016-), Editorial board member
- EUROPA XXI (2013-), Director
Conferences
- AESOP Annual Congress 2019 "Planning for Transition" (9/7/2019-13/7/2019), Program committee
- AESOP Annual Congress 2017 "Space of dialogue for places of dignity" (11/7/2018-14/7/2018), Program committee
- AESOP Annual Congress 2018 "Making space for hope" (10/7/2018-14/7/2018), Program committee
- World Planning School Congress 2016 "GLOBAL CRISIS, PLANNING & CHALLENGES TO SPATIAL JUSTICE IN THE NORTH AND IN THE SOUTH" (3/7/2016-8/7/2021), Program committee
- AESOP Annual Congress 2015 "DEFINITE SPACE - FUZZY RESPONSIBILITY" (13/7/2015-16/7/2015), Program committee
- AESOP Annual Congress 2014 "From Control to Co-evolution" (9/7/2014-12/7/2014), Program committee
- 2nd AESOP Young Academics Conference "Looking Behind One's Nose", Program chair
- 1st AESOP Young Academic Conference. CE3 - Central amd Easterm European Engagement (1/1/2007-10/2/2007), Program chair
Other research or teaching roles outside Politecnico
- Visiting Researcher, presso University of Tokyo (1/10/2017-16/9/2018)
- Ricercatore, presso Technische Universität Kaiserslautern (1/10/2010-31/12/2011)
- Visiting Professor, presso Wroclaw University of Technology (1/1/2010-1/7/2010)
- Visiting Professor, presso University of Tartu (1/1/2010-1/6/2010)
- Visiting Researcher, presso Newcastle University (20/2/2006-25/6/2006)
Research networks
- ARL research group Comparative Spatial Planning Research (2010-2012). Partecipazione
- Gruppo Tecnico SIU "Dottorati di Ricerca" (2017-). Partecipazione
- ARL Research group "Small towns and metropolitan cores: towards cooperation? A European perspective’" (2020-). Partecipazione
- Gruppo Tecnico SIU "Riforma della disciplina urbanistica" (2020-). Partecipazione
Teaching
Collegi of the PhD programmes
- URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2022/2023 (39. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2021/2022 (38. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2020/2021 (37. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2019/2020 (36. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2018/2019 (35. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2017/2018 (34. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2016/2017 (33. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2015/2016 (32. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2014/2015 (31. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2013/2014 (30. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO
Collegi of the degree programmes
- Collegio di Architettura e Design. Componente
- Collegio di Pianificazione e Progettazione. Componente
Teachings
PhD
- Learning by playing: Urban energy transition as a Serious Game. A.A. 2023/24, URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Teaching assistant
- Learning by playing: Urban energy transition as a Serious Game. A.A. 2022/23, URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Teaching assistant
- Latin American planning systems in transition (didattica di eccellenza). A.A. 2019/20, URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Main teacher
Master of Science
- Planning theory and comparative planning studies. A.A. 2024/25, PIANIFICAZIONE URBANISTICA E TERRITORIALE. Titolare del corso
- Planning theory and comparative planning studies. A.A. 2023/24, PIANIFICAZIONE URBANISTICA E TERRITORIALE. Titolare del corso
- Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning Systems. A.A. 2022/23, PIANIFICAZIONE TERRITORIALE, URBANISTICA E PAESAGGISTICO-AMBIENTALE. Titolare del corso
- Challenge@PoliTo by Firms - Ente Turismo LRM. A.A. 2022/23, INGEGNERIA GESTIONALE (ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT). Titolare del corso
- Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning Systems. A.A. 2021/22, PIANIFICAZIONE TERRITORIALE, URBANISTICA E PAESAGGISTICO-AMBIENTALE. Titolare del corso
- Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning Systems. A.A. 2020/21, PIANIFICAZIONE TERRITORIALE, URBANISTICA E PAESAGGISTICO-AMBIENTALE. Titolare del corso
- Challenge@PoliTo by Firms - Programmare risorse e pianificare territori: gli Ambiti di Integrazione Territoriale. A.A. 2020/21, PIANIFICAZIONE TERRITORIALE, URBANISTICA E PAESAGGISTICO-AMBIENTALE. Titolare del corso
- Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning Systems. A.A. 2019/20, PIANIFICAZIONE TERRITORIALE, URBANISTICA E PAESAGGISTICO-AMBIENTALE. Titolare del corso
- Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning Systems. A.A. 2018/19, PIANIFICAZIONE TERRITORIALE, URBANISTICA E PAESAGGISTICO-AMBIENTALE. Titolare del corso
Bachelor of Science
- Atelier Città e Territorio C (modulo di Urbanistica). A.A. 2024/25, ARCHITETTURA. Titolare del corso
- Progettare la transizione resiliente di città e territori - Intraprendenti. A.A. 2023/24, INGEGNERIA AEROSPAZIALE. Collaboratore del corso
- Atelier Città e Territorio C (modulo di Urbanistica). A.A. 2023/24, ARCHITETTURA. Titolare del corso
- Atelier Città e Territorio C (modulo di Urbanistica). A.A. 2022/23, ARCHITETTURA. Titolare del corso
- Innovation Ecosystems for Impact - Intraprendenti. A.A. 2021/22, INGEGNERIA AEROSPAZIALE. Collaboratore del corso
- Innovation Ecosystems for Impact - Intraprendenti. A.A. 2021/22, INGEGNERIA AEROSPAZIALE. Titolare del corso
- Atelier Città e Territorio C (modulo di Urbanistica). A.A. 2021/22, ARCHITETTURA. Titolare del corso
- Atelier Città e Territorio C (modulo di Urbanistica). A.A. 2020/21, ARCHITETTURA. Titolare del corso
- Atelier Città e Territorio C (modulo di Urbanistica). A.A. 2019/20, ARCHITETTURA. Titolare del corso
- Politiche e progetti urbanistici. A.A. 2018/19, ARCHITETTURA. Titolare del corso
Teaching and training projects
Projects funded by competitive calls
- DMo4PPL - Digital Education Modules 4 Participatory Planning, (2023-2025) - Responsabile Scientifico
Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships - SPOT - Sustainable Spatial Planning of Tourism Destinations, (2019-2022) - Responsabile Scientifico
Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships
Research
Research projects
Projects funded by competitive calls
- PRELAB - Precarious Labour in Asia: Exploring Challenges and Solution to Labour Insecurity through Case-Study-Based Evidence from 8 Asian Countries, (2024-2028) - Responsabile Scientifico
UE-funded research - HE - Excellent Science - MSCA - - - The new Italian geographies of logistics. Between post-pandemic transition and multi-level policy responses., (2023-2025) - Responsabile Scientifico
Nationally funded research - PRIN - GreenFORCE - GREENFORCE: FOSTER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FOR GREEN TRANSITION IN THE WESTERN BALKANS, (2022-2025) - Responsabile Scientifico
UE-funded research - HE - Widening Participation and spreading excellence
Projects funded by commercial contracts
- Territorial governance of non-standard geographies (ESPON Service Contract ref 017/2023) , (2023-2025) - Responsabile Scientifico
Commercial Research - Contratto di prestazione di servizi tra il Politecnico di Torino (Area TRIN) e l’ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero per lo svolgimento delle attività di didattica innovativa aventi ad oggetto una Challenge rivolta agli studenti del Politecnico di T, (2022-2023) - Responsabile Scientifico
Commercial contracts for the provision of services - The Role and Future Perspectives of Cohesion Policy in the Planning of Metropolitan Areas and Cities (ESPON METRO) – Additional outreach activities, (2021-2022) - Responsabile Scientifico
Commercial Research - espon metro, (2020-2021) - Responsabile Scientifico
Commercial Research - Sustainable Urbanisation and land-use Practices in European Regions - SUPER, (2019-2020) - Responsabile Scientifico
Commercial Research - Urban-rural connectivity in non-metropolitan regions (URRUC), (2018-2019) - Responsabile Scientifico
Commercial Research - Progetto ESPON - acronimo RESSI - Regional Strategies for sustainable and inclusive territorial development, (2016-2017) - Responsabile Scientifico
Commercial Research - Progetto ESPON - acronimo COMPASS - Comparative analysis of territorial governance and spatial planning systems in Europe, (2016-2018) - Responsabile Scientifico
Commercial Research
Supervised PhD students
- Martina Caputo. Programme in Urban And Regional Development (39th cycle, 2023-in progress)
- Virginia Pellerey. Programme in Urban And Regional Development (38th cycle, 2022-in progress)
- Yahya Yasser Mohamed Shaker. Programme in Urban And Regional Development (38th cycle, 2022-in progress)
Research subject: Multi-level Meta-Governance of Just Green Transitions in the European Union
Urban and regional governance Spatial planning Urban and regional governance Spatial planning Urban and regional governance Spatial planning - Giorgio Tosato. Programme in Urban And Regional Development (37th cycle, 2021-in progress)
- Donato Casavola. Programme in Urban And Regional Development (36th cycle, 2020-2024)
Thesis: Characters in Search of an Author. Unfolding the territorial governance of Italian Metropolitan Cities.
Spatial planning Climate change Sustainable land use and territorial resilience Urban studies Urban and regional governance - Federica Rotondo. Programme in Urban And Regional Development (35th cycle, 2019-2023)
Thesis: REINTERPRETING URBAN TRANSITIONS Spatial conditions, actors and implications in energy renovation of public housing neighbourhoods. Insights from Italy and France
Publications
Last years publications
PoliTO co-authors
Publications by type
Selected publications View all publications in Porto@Iris
- Cotella, G.; Vitale, Brovarone (2021)
Rethinking urbanisation after COVID-19. What role for the EU cohesion policy?. In: TOWN PLANNING REVIEW, vol. 92, pp. 411-418. ISSN 1478-341X
Contributo su Rivista - Cotella, G.; Evers, D.; Janin Rivolin, U.; Berisha, E.; Solly, A. (2020)
ESPON SUPER – Sustainable Urbanisation and land-use Practices in European Regions. A GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION AND LAND-USE. Luxembourg, ESPON EGTC, P. 108. ISBN: 978-29-197-9540-6
Libro - Cotella, Giancarlo (2020)
How Europe hits home? The impact of European Union policies on territorial governance and spatial planning. In: GÉOCARREFOUR, vol. 94, pp. 1-23. ISSN 1627-4873
Contributo su Rivista - Cotella, Giancarlo; Purkarthofer, Eva; Faludi, Andreas (2020)
The poverty of territorialism and the future of European spatial integration. In: REGIONAL STUDIES, pp. 1-6. ISSN 0034-3404
Contributo su Rivista - Vitale Brovarone, Elisabetta; Cotella, Giancarlo (2020)
Improving Rural Accessibility: A Multilayer Approach. In: SUSTAINABILITY, vol. 12, pp. 1-20. ISSN 2071-1050
Contributo su Rivista - Solly, Alys; Berisha, Erblin; Cotella, Giancarlo; JANIN RIVOLIN YOCCOZ, Umberto (2020)
How Sustainable Are Land Use Tools? A Europe-Wide Typological Investigation. In: SUSTAINABILITY, vol. 12, pp. 1-21. ISSN 2071-1050
Contributo su Rivista - Bottero, Marta; Caprioli, Caterina; Cotella, Giancarlo; Santangelo, Marco (2019)
Sustainable Cities: A Reflection on Potentialities and Limits based on Existing Eco-Districts in Europe. In: SUSTAINABILITY, vol. 11, pp. 1-22. ISSN 2071-1050
Contributo su Rivista - Tulumello, S.; Cotella, G.; Othengrafen, F. (2019)
Spatial planning and territorial governance in Southern Europe between economic crisis and austerity policies. In: INTERNATIONAL PLANNING STUDIES, vol. 25, pp. 72-87. ISSN 1356-3475
Contributo su Rivista - Cotella, G. (2019)
The Urban Dimension of EU Cohesion Policy. In: Territorial Cohesion. The Urban Dimension / Eduardo Medeiros, S.L., Springer, pp. 133-151. ISBN: 978-3-030-03385-9
Contributo in Volume - Berisha, Erblin; Colic, Natasa; Cotella, Giancarlo; Nedovic-Budic, Zorica (2018)
Mind the Gap: Spatial Planning Systems in the Western Balkan Region. In: TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN SCHOOLS OF PLANNING, vol. 2, pp. 47-62. ISSN 2566-2147
Contributo su Rivista - Cotella, Giancarlo, a cura di (2018)
European Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning Practices. Warsaw, Polish Academy of Science, P. 131
Curatele - Berisha, Erblin; Cotella, Giancarlo (2016)
Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning in the Western Balkans between Transition, European Integration and Path-Dependency. In: JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN SOCIAL RESEARCH, vol. 2, pp. 23-51. ISSN 2312-251X
Contributo su Rivista - Cotella, Giancarlo; JANIN RIVOLIN YOCCOZ, Umberto; Santangelo, Marco (2016)
Transferring ‘good’ territorial governance across Europe. Opportunities and barriers. In: Territorial Governance across Europe. Pathways, practices and prospects / Schmitt P., Van Well L., London and New York, Routledge, pp. 238-253. ISBN: 978-1-13-886087-2
Contributo in Volume - Cotella, Giancarlo; Crivello, Silvia (2016)
“The macroregional geopolitics of energy security: towards a new energy world order?”. In: Low carbon energy security from a European perspective / S.N., S.L., Elsevier, pp. 81-108. ISBN: 9780128029701
Contributo in Volume - Valkenburg, Govert; Cotella, Giancarlo (2016)
Governance of energy transitions: about inclusion and closure in complex sociotechnical problems. In: ENERGY, SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIETY, vol. 6, pp. 1-11. ISSN 2192-0567
Contributo su Rivista - Cotella, Giancarlo; Othengrafen, F.; Papaioannou, A.; Tulumello, S. (2015)
Socio-political and socio-spatial implications of the economic crisis and austerity politics in Southern European cities. In: Cities in Crisis. Socio-spatial impacts of the economic crisis in Southern European cities / Jorg Knieling, Frank Othengrafen, Londra, Routledge, pp. 27-47. ISBN: 978-1-13-885002-6
Contributo in Volume - Cotella, Giancarlo; JANIN RIVOLIN YOCCOZ, Umberto (2015)
Europeizzazione del governo del territorio: un modello analitico. In: TERRITORIO, vol. 73, pp. 127-134. ISSN 1825-8689
Contributo su Rivista - Caruso, Nadia; Cotella, Giancarlo; Pede, ELENA CAMILLA (2015)
From crisis to crisis: Dynamics of change and emerging models of governance in the Turin metropolitan area. In: Cities in Crisis. Socio-spatial impacts of the economic crisis in Southern European cities / Jorg Knieling, Frank Othengrafen, Londra, Routledge, pp. 257-277. ISBN: 978-1-13-885002-6
Contributo in Volume - Cotella, Giancarlo (2014)
Spatial Planning in Poland between European Influences and Dominant Market Forces. In: SPATIAL PLANNING SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES IN EUROPE. A comparative perspective on continuity and changes / Reimer M., Getimis P., Blotevogel H.H., London & New York, Routledge, Taylor and ancis Group on UK, pp. 255-277. ISBN: 9780415727235
Contributo in Volume - Stead, D.; Cotella, Giancarlo, a cura di (2011)
Differential Europe: Domestic Actors and Their Role in Shaping Spatial Planning Systems. S.L., S.N., P. 104
Curatele - Cotella, Giancarlo; JANIN RIVOLIN YOCCOZ, Umberto (2011)
Europeanization of Spatial Planning through Discourse and Practice in Italy. In: DISP, vol. 3/2011, pp. 43-54. ISSN 0251-3625
Contributo su Rivista - Adams, N; Cotella, Giancarlo; Nunes, R., a cura di (2011)
Territorial Development, Cohesion and Spatial Planning. Knowledge and Policy Development in an Enlarged EU. LONDON, Routledge, P. 488. ISBN: 9780415551946
Curatele