Territorial intelligence is an emerging concept highly polysemous. This article does not give a comprehensive definition and consensus. Our subject is to take stock of the evolution of our concept of territorial intelligence at the end of the Coordination Action European Network of Territorial Intelligence (caENTI) to present a definition that supports ambition, the research directions and activities of the European Network Territorial Intelligence (ENTI). Our goal is to position the territorial intelligence as an alternative to development models based on economic efficiency in the short term or the central policy authority.

The Catalyse method offers tools of diagnosis, evaluation and observation that are accessible to the local actors of the sustainable territorial development. These tools are useful to draft relevant development projects, to efficiently manage these projects, then to valuate them and to estimate their impact.

These tools that are intended for the actors of the sustainable development respect and favour the principles of participation, global approach and partnership. They facilitate the mobilization of development partnerships that are composed of professionals who work in public services, private organizations and active voluntaries in associations. They guarantee a participative animation of the partnership.