Driven by the Globalization, 'places' are working at an ever faster pace to create added value for their citizens, skilled employees, companies and investors. This added value is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Attraction factors are combined in more and more complex packages and combinations not formerly interrelated.

These new combinations and processes are in their infancy, and have only recently become factors by which the effectiveness of political and business functions are measured. The attractiveness of a place depends on how local players interact when faced with these new market challenges.

An attractive place - a so-called frontplace - offers something unique. The essence of uniqueness is dependent on whether knowledge creation will lead to continuous innovation and thus creating a competitive advantage.