Unlocking the potential of intermediary cities for regional development in Brindisi, Italy

Intermediary cities can be powerful drivers of smart, inclusive, and sustainable regional development. Located outside major metropolitan areas, these small and medium-sized hubs play an “intermediary” role by structuring the flows of people, goods, capital, and knowledge across surrounding urban and rural areas. This study, conducted as part of the OECD-EU project “Unlocking the Potential of Intermediary Cities for Regional Development", focuses on Brindisi, located in the Puglia region in the south of Italy, which is facing one of the fastest rates of population decline among intermediary cities in the region. Applying the project’s analytical framework, the study examines Brindisi’s functions as an intermediary city. It explores the city’s role in a polycentric regional context and the broader national urban system, while highlighting both challenges and opportunities. The study provides policy guidance to strengthen national, regional, and local policy frameworks, leverage culture and infrastructure for innovation, and support a more sustainable and inclusive development path.