Governance, Economic Sustainability and Socio-spatial Relationships

The chapter summarizes major findings emerging from the six case studies. Drawing on the analytical framework presented in chapter five, the chapter is organized in three sections. The first section—“Genesis, governance and organisation”—underlines the experimental drive and, consequently, the developmental nature of the projects analysed. The “business model and economic sustainability section” highlights how all initiatives are characterized by the stratification of multiple values, a kind of “value mix” which responds to both strictly productive as well as social, and at times cultural, needs. The value mix becomes a fundamental component of the business model, clearly reflecting on the definition of the users of the initiatives and the type of activity performed, as well as the economies generated/consumed. The “socio-spatial relations” generated by the six cases are analysed in section three, focusing on both the relations with the ‘local’ and ‘supra-local’ networks, and with local public powers. Final remarks reflect on the ownership of the assets in question, checking if and how this differentiates the cases in terms of governance, legal form and organisation on one hand, and mission, business model and sustainability on the other.