Nicolae Popa is Full Professor in the Department of Geography, West University of Timisoara, Romania, and Director of the Center for Regional Development, Cross-Border Studies and Spatial Planning (CDR-START). He is also an associate member of the doctoral school of IIDL of the Valencia University and Castellon University, Spain. He has carried out 40 research and development projects in the fields of social and political geography, spatial development and cross-border cooperation, projects financed by European, national or local funds. Currently, his research focuses on the issue of creative industries, tourism and urban regeneration, especially in the European capitals of culture. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2196-1842