Territorial Intelligence Serving Regional Development: An Integrated Approach to the Case of the Draa-Tafilalet Region in Morocco

Abstract

In a globalized and rapidly changing economic context, territories are increasingly recognized as key actors in sustainable development. Territorial Intelligence (TI) emerges as a strategic lever to enhance local governance, optimize information management, and strengthen regional competitiveness. This paper examines the influence of Territorial Intelligence on regional development through an empirical study conducted in Morocco Drâa-Tafilalet region.

The research follows a hypothetico-deductive approach that combines a conceptual framework with empirical investigation. A questionnaire was distributed to 150 territorial stakeholders, including elected officials, administrative representatives, economic actors, associations, and citizens. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to identify the fundamental dimensions of Territorial Intelligence, while complementary statistical analyses assessed their influence on the effectiveness and sustainability of regional development.

The results reveal a positive and significant relationship between the implementation of territorial intelligence mechanisms and regional development performance. The findings highlight that effective governance, information sharing, and coordination among actors are key drivers of inclusive and sustainable territorial growth. However, territorial monitoring does not show a statistically significant direct effect in the estimated model. Overall, the study contributes to reinforcing Territorial Intelligence as a strategic tool for evidence-based public decision-making and the effective management of territorial development policies.

Classification JEL :  R11, R58, O21, O18, D83 Paper type: Empirical Research