More information is available about the OECD review process and requirements on the Higher Education and Regions’ website: www. In 2004-07, the OECD/IMHE conducted an extensive study with 14 regional reviews across 12 countries. This resulted in the OECD flagship publication Higher Education and Regions: Globally Competitive, Locally Engaged (OECD, 2007) with recommendation to benefit both higher education institutions and national and regional governments. In 2008, the OECD/IMHE launched a second series of OECD reviews of Higher Education in Regional and City Development to address the demand by national and regional governments for more responsive and active higher education institutions and to support the OECD strategies on innovation and green growth. As a result, 14 regions in 11 countries, including the Lombardy region in Italy, underwent the OECD review process in 2008-11.