All URBACT articles

Hear from the URBACT community on today’s most pressing challenges and inspiring examples from all around Europe. Find the inspiration you have been looking for to put knowledge into action!

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  • Participative governance

    View from the Top: When Women Run Cities...

    In this next article in the series on gender equality and female leadership in cities we hear some personal views directly from a number of women city leaders and urban experts. The first article of

  • Climate action
    Local economy

    Growing cities: How to Expand in a Sustainable and Integrated way?

    Population growth contributes in many cases also to increase in financial resources. Cities where population and economic growth go hand in hand can be consideredto be in a fortunate position. But how

  • Social cohesion

    Why Tackling Early School Leaving in Cities Matters

    In his seminal book, The Rise of the Meritocracy, Michael Young set out his concerns for a society increasingly focused on qualifications and narrow academic talent. One of his worries was that people

  • Participative governance

    Gender equality in cities

    On March 8 we celebrate UN International Women’s Day- a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an

  • Smart specialisation, triple helix, open innovation and smart cities. Going beyond the jargon

    There are a bewildering array of terms in economic development discussions about cities. Below we unpack them from a city perspective. 

  • Planning and urban sprawl

    Most planners and city politicians agree that urban sprawl endangers the sustainability of urban development. There is a clear conflict between the benefits of the few who get better life conditions

  • Combining horizontal and vertical integration

    There are many different interpretations and meanings attached to the integrated approach. These include balancing environmental quality, social cohesion and economic compeitiveness, bringing together

  • Data Driven Cities

    Big data and open data are buzz concepts in urban governance. But what do they mean? Where is the current good practice? And how can cities get smarter in using both their own data and data sourced

  • The case of Urban Food Systems

    Against the backdrop of climate change, cities are facing increasing environmental challenges that threaten the quality of life and opportunities that urban environments can offer to their residents