the coordination actors. The governance of a territory must be assured by the
functioning of local cooperation networks (formal or informal).
Thus, the complex interaction among these elements (knowledge, networks and
governance), brings a potential innovation into an effective innovation; it allows for
improvement the ability to innovate and enable to the territory (innovative) to compete,
to grow and to strengthen its internal cohesion.
3- Methodology
The 3 Portuguese sub-regions (NUTS III) of the Interior Central Region are Beira
Interior Norte (BIN), Beira Interior Sul (BIS) and Cova da Beira (CB) (Raia Central
Portuguesa-RCP or part of Beira Interior except Pinhal Interior Sul and Serra Estrela).
These sub-regions are characterized by having come to lose population, quantitatively
and qualitatively. They present debility in their company structure and insufficient
economic capacity. Therefore, in the several studies of Reigado (1992, 1995, 2000a,
2002), Santos and Caetano (eds) (2002); Lourenço (1996) among others, these sub-
regions are qualified as disfavoured and depressed. They present a geographic and