Courbit project is based on an interpretative model for the process of urban transformations, based on a systematic break down into different items.

Urban systems can very often represent the engine of the economic re-launching and, on the contrary, their decline represents an element of economic stagnation.

The interpretative model is based on the following elements:

a) Functions

b) Urban models

c) Actors: Public operators and Private and PPP

d) Tools

e) "Driver" that is the subject or the network able to manage the dynamics of competitive advantage

Functions - Globalisation determines a quick change of functions, especially in urban areas, especially with reference to economic and productive functions, but also to social ones. Some functions require to be substituted or modified; in other cases the lack of intervention causes an obsolescence.
The change or replacement of functions can be linked with a "physical transformation" (containers) but also with the contents. Courbit is more focused on the containers than to their contents.

Urban models - An analysis of European urban phenomena, also thanks to the experiences of the partners, leads to the identification of 7 models. The former objective of Courbit was to work on a sole model: the urban renewal and its framework and the setting up of the ventures. The 7 models identified are linked to the different types of interventions that can be developed and to the functions to be transformed: they permit to analyze the complexity of urban phenomena. The 7 models are the following ones:

1. Renewal
2. Redevelopment
3. Regeneration
4. Recover
5. Revitalisation
6. Framework
7. Gentrification
8. Restructuring

The actors - public administration, private operators and PPP. The Development of new functions or in general of complex urban investments requires the intervention of many subjects. Public Administration intervenes with its projects; private operators with their ones; in some cases PPP are structured. Our thesis is that PPPs are essential to cope with the need of new complex venture, and to face the different interests involved. This represents a new scenario. Till some years ago we assisted to a separation between State and Market within complex urban investments. They had operated with schemes and procedures different. Nowadays, planning new functions requires new managerial schemes, like PPP, especially to face short timing, complex investments and integrated assets, capital intensive investments. That scenario requires moving from a dimension of "government" of urban investments to a "governance" of them.

Tools - New urban investments, PPP schemes and new form of Governance require the development of new tools. Those tools can't be referred to a unique model of urban intervention. Different models require different tools in order to accomplish their specific aims (the design of new functions and the replacement of old ones). It is necessary to define a map of new tools, some of them could be just experimented, as a prototype; others could represent a well establish way of intervention. The importance of the design of the tools map is based on the evolution of traditional models of intervention in urban areas. PPP requires a passage from the old tools to new ones.

Driver - The elements described requires the presence of a "director or a leader" able to develop the competitive advantage of complex urban investments and of metropolitan areas. When we refer to the figure of director/leader we think about an abstract subject, or new professions, or a network of actors who work to set the governance of the intervention and to fulfil the competitive advantage. That role can't be played bt a sole subject (a local public administration for example) or by a network of public actors: it could be played for example by complex network of subjects. The questions are: who are those subjects? How to set the suitable governance? Courbit would like to find some answers to these questions.

The characteristics of drivers could be the following ones:

a. it has to be able to work within different urban models and to define different solutions
b. it has to be able to define old functions and to draw the new ones
c. it has to tie together different public competences and roles
d. it has to involve private subjects on the basis of their characteristics
e. it has to use the appropriate tools in order to build up the urban interventions
f. The driver is someone able to influence the competitive advantage of the urban area, its decline or its renaissance
g. We would like to understand if driver exists and its characteristics; if it is necessary to create new figures, with interdisciplinary competences, able to give an answer to the evolution of urban phenomena.