Alessandro Crociata, a cultural economist, is a full professor of applied economy at the University of Chieti-Pescara, where he teaches Economics of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). His research focuses on cultural-based local development and culture as a driver of behavioral change. He is the director of the Urban Cultural Observatory of L'Aquila whose aim is to measure the role of culture and CCIs in the urban ecosystem. He is the director of ISIA, the Higher Institute for Artistic Industries of Pescara, a public university-level institute focused on Design and where he is launching a new research activity on game design for behavioural change at individual and firm level. He serves the European Research Executive Agency (REA) of European Commission as expert monitor and expert evaluator for several calls HORIZON linked to the topics: culture, creativity and development.