2017
The first analysis stage of the project was: The conceptualisation of the “industrial town”. A historical retrospective on the (post)industrial development of the case study town in Romania.
The objectives of the first reporting stage referred to:
- the identification of main types of industrial towns in Romania. For this objective, the typology of towns in Romania was realised with a focus on small and medium-sized towns. At national level, small and medium-sized industrial towns were considered into the European category of SMITs as including those urban entities which in 1992 had a more than 50% share of the active population in industry and a total population of 100,000 inhabitants at most;
- understanding the role of industrial towns within the national urban structure. For highlighting the position and contribution of industrial towns within the national urban structure, several demographic, socio-economic, infrastructure and environment statistical indicators were analysed;
- the proposal of a conceptual model of the Romanian industrial town. Given the economic performance of small and medium-sized industrial towns in Romania, reflected within different demographic, functional or living standard types, 5 categories of towns were established – industrial towns with a high, medium to high, medium, medium to low, and low economic performance;
- understanding the evolution of the Romanian industrial town in the post-industrial period taking into consideration the multiple factors which influenced the evolution of the Romanian urban space over time: natural, political and historical, socio-economic and cultural factors.
2018
The second stage of the project was: The analysis of the case study industrial town (transitions, specific, historic) and its social sustainability assessment. The industrial town which represents the case study in Romania is Fieni, Dâmbovița County.
The main objectives of the second reporting period referred to:
- the analysis of industrial activity in Fieni with a focus on the local industrial symbols, their presence, significations and visibility;
- knowledge on the local experiences of Fieni through the detailed analysis of its socio-economic evolution as an important step in the identification of different local narratives useful for the assessment of its alternative (post)industrial development;
- the social sustainability assessment of Fieni;
- the analysis of trans-disciplinary methodological directions on the history of social and organisational innovation;
- the elaboration of promotional materials for the stakeholders;
- the dissemination of the project results.
2019
The third stage of the project was: The identification of social and institutional innovations within the case study industrial town and general recommendations of specific policies for the stakeholders at the level of European industrial towns. The industrial town which represents the case study in Romania is Fieni, Dâmbovița County.
The main objectives of the third reporting period referred to:
- the complex analysis of the history of social and organisational innovation in Fieni in order to understand the characteristics of the current innovations of the town, but also of the local innovations which have the potential to develop in the future;
- the realisation of a strategic guide for the enhancement of urban development policies for small and medium-sized industrial towns. The guide was realised based on the analysis of Fieni and on the other analyses elaborated by the project partners on the case study towns at European level;
- the realisation of a first draft of the practical guide for stakeholders;
- organizing the project meeting in Romania;
- the dissemination of the project results;
- the evaluation of the project activities and results by an external expert.
2020
The fourth stage in the project was: Recommendations for the alternative urban development of industrial towns. The studied industrial town at the national level is Fieni, Dâmbovița County.
The main objectives of the fourth reporting phase referred to:
- the realisation of a short practical guide for stakeholders (brief policies) presenting the major challenges of the five case study towns in the project and policy recommendations on categories of problems to eliminate or reduce the impact on their future development;
- participation in the international workshop organized at the end of the project by ZRC SAZU (Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts), with the support of all partners.