Short description / Current status and future steps / Lessons learned: = Case description = In parallel to the work on the consecutive drafts of the Malopolska Region Development Strategy (MRDS), the Marshall Office of the Malopolska Region carried out a broad regional debate on the future of Malopolska. Public consultations included a range of initiatives and events aimed at opening up the preparations for the new strategy to the region’s inhabitants, from October 2009 (following approval and publishing of the MRDS update guidelines) until mid-November 2010 (following the second draft approval). Using communication tools resulted in MRDS consultations within the framework of a multi-platform regional debate about the future of Malopolska, lasting several months. Over the course of the debate, all stakeholders representing social, professional and local community groups, as well as the inhabitants of the region, had the opportunity to express their opinions about the document and suggest changes. At each stage of the work on the strategic document, they could familiarise themselves with the content using the specific website www.Strategia2020. malopolskie.pl. Due to the range of activities undertaken, it was decided formally to extend the timeframe beyond the 35-day term, designated by law. This increased the fundamental quality of the document, but also raised awareness among the intended audience. The events and initiatives organised during the course of the regional debate related to the work on the Malopolska 2020 Strategy were as follows: # Public events: a. Public consultations through the internet: enabling stakeholders to acquaint themselves with the document and to communicate their opinions, as well the updated MRDS draft; b. Territorial consultations consisting of five meetings located in the centres of the Malopolska region sub-regions. These meetings allowed guidelines to be drafted and agreed on individual conduct for the development of Malopolska in the sub-regional dimension; c. Thematic consultations consisting of conferences and seminars on the key areas of the strategy: higher education, culture, rural areas, cities, economy and entrepreneurship; d. Promotional campaign involving broad use of the media: regional television, both public channel TVP Krakow and internet television of the Marshal Office, as well as the regional and local press, internet (Facebook and an internet competition ‘My idea on Malopolska’, where any Malopolska resident could submit an initiative aimed at improving the life of local or regional community or development of the region). # Experts’ activities, which included discussion on the MRDS drafts within the framework of MRDS 2020 update team; and Malopolska Council for Observatories of Regional Development and Evaluation, Malopolska Innovation Council, and Malopolska Council for the Public Benefit, Regional Urban and Architectural Commission. # Discussion within formal bodies: the Regional Assembly’s Committees and Regional Board; Malopolska Mayor’s Forum and Convent of the Poviat Starostes of Malopolska Region; Joint Commission of the Central Government and Territorial Self-Governments. Around 1500 of the region’s residents took part in the public participation on the updating of the MRDS for the years 2011-2020.