Rethinking regional development through integrated territorial governance in the digital era

Abstract

Regional development is increasingly shaped by digital transformation, demographic change, climate pressures, territorial inequalities and growing interdependencies between institutions, businesses and local communities. These dynamics challenge conventional regional policies based on sectoral interventions, administrative boundaries and relatively static planning mechanisms. This study examines the transition from integrated territorial development towards integrated territorial governance as an emerging model for regional policy in the digital era. The aim is to develop a conceptual framework that connects territorial integration, multilevel governance, stakeholder participation, digital intelligence and adaptive policy capacity. The study applies a conceptual and institutional analytical approach, combining contemporary theoretical perspectives on place-based development and territorial governance with an examination of the evolving regional development system in Bulgaria. The analysis indicates that effective territorial integration extends beyond the coordination of investment instruments and requires a governance architecture capable of linking institutions, policies, territorial knowledge and decision-making processes. Digital technologies and data-driven analytical tools strengthen this architecture by supporting territorial diagnosis, monitoring, forecasting and policy adaptation. Based on these relationships, the article proposes an Integrated Territorial Governance Framework structured around five interconnected dimensions: territorial integration, multilevel governance, stakeholder participation, digital intelligence and adaptive policy capacity. The framework contributes to the regional development literature by conceptualising integrated territorial governance as a transition from sectoral and programme-oriented interventions towards a more adaptive, collaborative and territorially sensitive model of public governance.