This study provides a comprehensive analysis of territorial exaptive resilience along the EU's eastern borders, examining how regions mobilise and repurpose existing assets and capabilities in response to external challenges or shocks. Through rigorous quantitative analysis and detailed case studies, the research advances our understanding of regional adaptation and transformation in peripheral areas, contributing to both theoretical discourse and policy development. 

The analysis of structural conditions across European regions reveals significant territorial disparities. Employing Latent Class Analysis, the study identifies six distinct regional types, with eastern border regions predominantly classified as "Industrial-Agricultural Peripheries." These regions exhibit the lowest levels of employment and gross value added at the European level, alongside weak local resilience indicators and limited institutional capacity. Despite receiving substantial EU funding support, they remain characterised by structural weaknesses and constrained resource endowments, reflecting persistent core-periphery dynamics within the European space. 

Attached you can also find a shorter version of the study and a presentation on exaptive resilience.