Dealing with sustainable spatial development, WIKIAlps is interested in the underlying structure of actors and networks involved in spatial development across the Alps. In particular, it focuses on the diffusion of Alpine Space project results via stakeholders and their networks.

The term 'stakeholder' is a very general one and depending on the context it is more or less well defined. For instance the economic sciences give clear information about “What are the relevant stakeholders” for enterprises while in other fields such as policies, programs or projects the answer to this question is often not as obvious. But generally the term 'stakeholder' means people/groups of people and/or organisations which hold a legitimated interest (a stake) in the respective policy, program etc. and are influencing it or influenced by it. In Alpine Space projects, stakeholders are also target groups for whom project outputs are prepared.

For sustainable spatial development, stakeholders of AS projects are the following individuals, groups, companies and institutions.

• Civil society

Households, inhabitants of a territory, local population, commuters, web-users, civil society, associations of inhabitants, journalists, NGOs, protected areas

• Research

Scientists, universities, research institutions

• Private sector

e.g. companies from the construction sector, banks, SMEs

• Planners and other practitioners

Spatial planners, transport providers from the private sector

• Public administration

Civil servants, sector departments (planning, transport), land-use planning, regional planning, protected areas (if publicly managed)

• Policy makers

Mayors, local or regional decision-makers, transport authorities, policy makers on regional, national or European level