Labelling, certification and branding of cheeses in the southeastern Alps (Italy, Slovenia): Montasio, Bovec, Tolminc and Mohant cheese:

The paper presents various collective instruments used in the labelling, certification and branding of cheeses in the southeastern Alps of Slovenia and Italy. Based on long term ethnography it discusses four case studies of Montasio, Bovec, Tolminc, and Mohant cheeses, that were awarded protected designation of origin at European Union level. The impact of geographical indications on the local dairy chains is compared to other instruments, ranging from top-down European and national quality schemes and inventories of traditional agricultural products and heritage, to grass-root initiatives such as Slow Food instruments and local brands. The study finds substantial difference in the use and impact of geographical indications in Italy and Slovenia, as well as several ambiguous and dissonant effects in all the identified instruments

Creating the missing link: applying collective marks to create clusters

Collective marks guarantee ownership over a community’s intangible wealth and in this sense not only reinforce its branding activities, but set up a new structure in which community business can function. Systems of local innovation may thus be developed through the design of an adequate legal infrastructure, paving the way for the solution of policy concerns, such as rural exodus or unemployment. Cluster theory argues that, if small and medium sized enterprises intensify their degree of interaction to build up networks, this reduces costs, dependence on large firms, provides access to new markets and helps improve the position of the cluster in the market. All these functions can be reinforced through collective marks, which offer a legal context for the cluster’s governance structure, its standards and quality controls and system of collaboration. These features are particularly of relevance in a sector like tourism, where cooperation is a prerequisite for success. Empirical evidence suggests a certain sense of confusion on the role of trade mark protection in clusters: Individual marks are used as if they were collective marks, collective marks are used without further consideration of the economic aspects or intellectual property protection is altogether ignored. In practice the wide range of opportunities provided by collective trademarks remains unexploited. Interdisciplinary approaches to IP may help to bridge a gap, observed both within academia and in practice, and thus join the IP law perspective to the evolving management literature on cluster theory.cluster creation, community reinforcement, network theory, collective trademarks,

Практические методы проектирования устойчивого общественного пространства

This paper summarises two selected workshop methods of public space programming and design. Proper application of those methods allows to attain full social participation, to facilitate the decision-making process, as well as to resolve potential conflicts with building of confidence in democratic procedures and institutions.В данной статье кратко описываются два выбранных метода программирования и проектирования общественного пространства. Правильное применение этих методов позволяет достичь полного участия в жизни общества, содействовать процессу принятия решений, а также разрешать потенциальные конфликты с укреплением доверия в демократических процедурах и институтах

Education and Transition in Hungary

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Co-creation : a way to reach sustainable innovation?

No abstract

Functional Urban Areas as the Focus of Development Policy in Poland

This article presents the premises, current status and the prospects of using functional urban areas as the focus of Poland's development policy. For the past 10 years, cities, especially large ones, have been increasingly impacting on their surrounding areas defined as functional urban areas. The size of those areas is determined by the process of suburbanisation. The article emphasises the issue of uncoordinated development of functional urban areas surrounding core cities and on grassroot and top-down attempts to integrate their development

Participation in Economic Advancement: The Experience of the Brazilian Network of Community Banks (BNCB)

This case study was designed to investigate how people in poor communities in Brazil are taking action to improve their local economies and how participation is important to achieve that. In a context of economic marginalisation and limited access to infrastructure and public goods, local movements have risen in which residents organise themselves to discuss major community issues and try to find a solution together. The experience of Banco Palmas, the first Brazilian Community Development Bank (CDB), inspired the spread of this model across the country and resulted in the creation of the Brazilian Network of Community Banks (BNCB). By definition, CDBs are grass-root initiatives developed and managed by the community, working for the community, based on solidarity economy principles. The purpose of the BNCB is to exchange experiences, advocate for solidarity economy, articulate policies and partnerships, and to support the creation of new CDBs. Building from the experience of Banco Palmas, this study endeavours to understand the role of participation as a fundamental component of CDBs, and how it has been encouraged and promoted by the BNCB. The findings are based on a series of interviews with CDB representatives, the BNCB, the Brazilian government and other experts working in this area, as well as a comparison of the experiences of three CDBs: Banco Estrutural, Banco Mumbuca and Banco Palmas itself to understand the relevance of community engagement and ownership over the banks, as well as the significance of external partners for their survival. While the BNCB has become a national reference for establishing new CDBs based on participation, other factors including the origins of the CDBs, the effectiveness of their communication, their ability to reach beyond an activist base and their financial sustainability strategy are key to CDBs enabling participation.Open Society Foundation