Leader Programme in Apulia: Rural Development and Innovation Needs

Puglia is the Italian region of the “convergence objective” that has placed the greatest emphasis on the use of the Leader approach in planning for rural development. In view of these aspects, the attempt was made to understand how the Region and the territories comprising the Leader areas interpret innovation. In the case examined, in terms of the capacity to promote and consolidate processes aimed at innovation, there emerge opportunities and constraints linked to structural issues in implementing the policy instrument , to local decisions about strategies and contents, and to the models of governance adopted.