ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on some major developments affecting urban Europe. It develops a conceptual framework that helps to understand the role of information and communications technologies (ICT) in urban development. The chapter starts with a more general analysis of the dynamic developments that affect urban regions throughout Europe: globalisation, localisation, informationalisation, the rise of polycentric regions and the growing urban competition. The notion and importance of urban attractiveness is further elaborated and conceptualised. The welfare of the population can be improved by improving the centre's accessibility. Fundamental economic and technological developments set the stage for new urban dynamics. The chapter concerns the frame to two basic themes, and elaborates on the organisational issues of technology policy. The first theme is attractiveness of urban regions as a location for ICT companies. The second theme to be addressed is more general: the authors assess how urban management can deploy ICT-policy to improve the attractiveness of an urban region.
