This paper analyses a number of European regions that in the last decade, through a considerable change in their economic base, experienced a remarkable growth path and a significant increase in their competitiveness. Th analysis was carried out with the aim of recognizing the main determinants (or factors) of territorial development behind each regional renewal process and capturing (in a necessarily stylized manner) a number of common trajectories of regional competitiveness. Interestingly, all regional 'success histories' are strongly dependent on the presence of a tri-polar regional innovation system 'gluing' firms, institutions and academia.