Abstract

Starting in 2007, the program on EU Macro-Regional Strategies was launched, directly inspired by the EU Commission. The very ambitious objective of this program is to promote the economic and social development of the Union's vast territories through a process of innovation centred on the protection of the environment and the conservation of its natural resources. The guidelines along which the Program is already partially developing are: 1) the development of renewable energy sources; 2) the conservation and responsible use of resources such as water, forests, soil and atmosphere; 3) the development of mobility. The macro-regional strategies adopted so far are those that affect the territories of the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), the Danube Region (EUSDR), the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR) and the Alpine Region (EUSALP). The article presents the most significant results of early macro- regional experiences: the use of space technologies - in particular the observation of the Earth (Osservazione della Terra). These are particularly appropriate for the development of territorial innovation processes.